Since Layne Morgan turning 18 last month, she has barely had time to celebrate.
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The Macquarie Hills teenager has put her social life on hold to focus on her dream of playing rugby sevens for Australia.
Morgan, who is in year 12 at St Paul’s High School, Booragul, is on the right pathway after being named in the Australian Sevens squad headed to the Bahamas for the Youth Commonwealth Games from July 19 to 23.
The fleet-footed teenager started playing touch when she was nine then “had a go” at rugby at the insistence of friends when she turned 15.
She has not looked back.
“I just loved it,” Morgan said. “Especially sevens. I love the speed and how open the game is.”
In her attempt to make it to the elite level one day, Morgan hits the gym on a daily basis for strength training and has enlisted the help of Newcastle sprint coach Pete Gentz to help improve her speed over short distances.
She has also been named in the Macquarie University squad to play in the National University Sevens Series.
The competition will comprise eight teams and each get two Australian Sevens contracted players.
“It’s pretty exciting and should be a really good experience having those players in the squad,” Morgan said.
But her focus first will be on doing well in the Bahamas.
“It’s my first time playing a competition of this level, so I have no idea what to expect,” Morgan said.
“But I’m hoping our team goes well and hopefully we can get the gold medal.”
