Tokyo Olympics: Rhiannon Byers goes from riding to Aussie sevens, Randwick rugby

Rhiannon Byers did equestrian growing up and is a talented artist who was offered a scholarship overseas. So how on earth did she end up as a rugby player?

Rhiannon Byres at Australian Womens 7s training earlier this year.

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If Rhiannon Byers hadn’t badgered her mum to be allowed to play a new sport she wouldn’t be playing rugby and wouldn’t be aiming for an Olympic debut in 2021.

She might, in fact, be overseas at an art school.

Or perhaps, still be living in Pallamallawa, a small village near Moree with a population of around 200 in town.

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The former Inverell Highlander is instead living her dream in Sydney as a member of the Australians women’s sevens program and playing rugby with Randwick in the Jack Scott Cup.

Byers with teammates at Australian Womens 7s training earlier this year.

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The talented artist, now living at Maroubra, grew up riding horses but from the first time she played rugby, a new passion was ignited.

“I went to a high school a 45 minute drive away and after the first day I was asked if I wanted to play and I asked mum,” she said.

“Mum said no, you can’t get injured and I said I really want to. She said fine. but don’t come to me if you get injured.

“When I played sevens it was right, this is what I am going to do. It just felt right.”

Byers remembers exactly where she was when she saw the women’s Australian sevens side win it’s historic gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

Some artwork by the talented young rugby player.

“We were in the school bus going to Kings College for the state championships,” she said.

“We pulled over in the side of the road and watched the girls play on our phone.

“I said to my coach ‘I am going to be there at the next Olympics’. He said ‘righto’.”

Byers was eventually awarded a development contract before graduating to the Australian women’s sevens rugby program.

The young player, who has a work displayed in the HSC Art Express exhibition, said she had the choice to purse a career in art but chose football.

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“I got offered a scholarship to go to London but I love rugby,’’ she said.

Byers and her Randwick teammates take on Sydney Uni in the Jack Scott Cup rematch of last year’s season decider on Saturday.

An incredible 18 of the 30 players set to take the field are Wallaroos or Australian Sevens players.

With Byers at Randwick are Shannon Parry, Eva Karpani, Georgina Friedrichs, Layne Morgan, Oneata Schwalger, Kennedy Cherrington, Arabella McKenzie and Maya Stewart.

Uni’s stars are Grace Hamilton, Sera Naiqama, Adiana Talakai, Lori Cramer, Emily Chancellor, Fiona Jones, Iliseva Batibaasaga, Piper Duck and Jakiya Whitfield.