Teenager Page McGregor signs on for dream job with rugby sevens team
WHEN Australia beat New Zealand for the historic women’s rugby sevens gold at the Rio Olympics, Bankstown’s Page McGregor and her sister were the only two in the room cheering.
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WHEN Australia beat New Zealand for the historic women’s rugby sevens gold at the Rio Olympics, Bankstown’s Page McGregor and her sister were the only two in the room cheering.
On a holiday visiting relatives in New Zealand, McGregor was surrounded by Kiwi rugby supporters as they watched the gold-medal match.
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Now, almost 18 months on, her family might have to switch camps with the 18-year-old apprentice greenkeeper Rugby Australia’s latest fully contracted player.
The second youngest Australian woman to sign a fulltime professional contract - Tiana Penitani was 17 when snared - McGregor said she was so stunned to hear the news of her top tier contract she burst into tears.
“I thought I was going in to talk about a development contract and instead they gave me this news. I was so stunned mum and I just started crying,’’ said McGregor, who was born in Sydney to New Zealand parents and whose sister Rae played for the Kiwi Ferns at the recent rugby league World Cup.
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“I didn’t expect it. I guess I hoped I would get one eventually, but so soon is so great.’’
A natural athlete who played numerous sports at school, including rugby league and touch football, McGregor almost didn’t try her hand at rugby when a coach asked her to trial in the sport just four years ago.
“I said no because I though he meant 15s rugby and the thought of heaps of people jumping on me scared me because I wasn’t that big,’’ she said.
“But I ended up trying it and loved it. I liked it better than rugby league because it’s an Olympic sport and there’s more chance to travel.’’
Since sustaining an ankle injury which required surgery playing for the Bulldogs in the 2017 Tarsha Gale league competition, McGregor’s sporting fortunes have changed for the better.
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She was part of the Australian youth sevens team which won gold at the Youth Commonwealth Games and made such an impression in the Aon university series she made her Australian debut at the Oceania rugby sevens before being named to travel to the Dubai opener of the 2017/2018 HSBC World series.
“From the moment I heard rugby sevens was an Olympic sport I knew this was what I wanted to do,’’ McGregor said. “Now I have my dream job.’’
The teenager’s immediate goal is to make the cut for the Sydney Sevens event which starts on Australia Day and the team to play at the Commonwealth Games in April.
“To play any game at home, in front of friends and family, is special,’’ she said.