Prop Brianna Hoy wanted to be an Opal, now she’s about to make her Wallaroos rugby debut

This regional sport talent grew up wanting to play basketball for the Opals. Now she will debut for Australia in a completely different sport and one she only started playing a few years ago.

Rugby player Brianna Hoy has dreamt of playing for Australia since she was a young kid - just a different sport than the one she will be tackling when she debut for her country on Friday.

The 23-year-old from Coffs Harbour is one of three uncapped players named in the Wallaroos rugby squad for the World XV opener against England in Wellington, New Zealand.

“I dreamt as a child of representing my country but I didn’t actually start playing rugby until 2020 when I was 19,” said loose head prop Hoy, now living at Kensington and playing for the NSW Waratahs and Sydney University.

“I played basketball as a kid and wanted to be in Opal.

“I always wanted to play for Australia. That was the dream.’’

Brianna Hoy is about to become a Wallaroo.

Hoy, scrum half Sarah Dougherty from Hervey Bay and mercurial outside back Desiree Miller from Burwood in NSW have all been named to debut against England.

Also, in the Wallaroos is Hoy’s childhood mate from the Coffs Harbour Snappers, Kaitlan Leaney.

Hoy’s selection comes at the end of a long battle back from an ACL injury sustained in a trial game before the start of the last Super W women’s rugby competition.

Jasmin Huriwai in the match against the New Zealand Black Ferns last month. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

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“I think, in hindsight, it has made me a better player, maybe a smarter player,’’ Hoy said.

“It’s hard to watch from the sidelines but you learn things and it has certainly made me view the game a bit differently.

“You don’t realise at the time how much it (injury) will affect you, how you can think it is all over.

“But getting through it all I feel stronger and smarter.”

Lock Michaela Leonard will captain the Wallaroos against World Cup finalists England.

WXV is a new international rugby union tournament for senior national teams organised by World Rugby and being played from Friday to November 4.

Wallaroos squad for match against England

1. Brianna Hoy - uncapped, 2. Tania Naden – 6 caps, 3. Eva Karpani – 17 caps, 4. Michaela Leonard (c) – 18 caps, 5. Annabelle Codey – 4 caps, 6. Siokapesi Palu – 3 caps, 7. Emily Chancellor – 19 caps, 8. Kaitlan Leaney – 11 caps, 9. Layne Morgan – 15 caps, 10. Carys Dallinger – 3 caps, 11. Ivania Wong – 8 caps, 12. Arabella McKenzie – 18 caps, 13. Georgina Friedrichs – 15 caps, 14. Maya Stewart – 5 caps, 15. Faitala Moleka – 2 caps. Reserves: 16. Adiana Talakai – 12 caps 17. Bree-Anna Cheatham – 5 caps 18. Emily Robinson – 21 caps 19. Atasi Lafai – 6 caps 20. Ashley Marsters – 23 caps 21. Sarah Dougherty – uncapped 22. Cecilia Smith – 8 caps 23. Desiree Miller – uncapped.