QUEANBEYAN Whites womens rugby has celebrated another achievement this week, with captain Shellie Millward being selected in the Australian squad to play in the Tri-Nations and World Cup tournaments this year.
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Millward joins rugby sevens star Nikki Stanley as the second female Whites player to be selected for national honours this year, after Stanley was selected to wear green and gold in sevens last week.
It was the best news for ACT star Millward, who broke her collarbone playing in the state sevens team in Newcastle in February, and she has not played any rugby since.
"I've just had surgery for that...they've put a lot of faith in me by selecting me with a broken collarbone," Millward said with a laugh.
"I'm just happy to be on the touring team...If I make the starting team I'll be stoked."
"I'm just starting back at the gym now."
In 2010, after just two seasons of first grade rugby, Millward was selected in the Australian squad for the World Cup that year, but was cut down to a reserve and did not tour.
But she is guaranteed to tour this time around, and having played for the ACT side for an extra four seasons should improve her changes in taking the field for the first time in green and gold.
Millward has played most of her rugby for the Whites and ACT in the back row, but her versatility opens her up to lock, flanker and number eight as well.
"I've been selected in the lock position, but I'm probably expected to play anywhere from the number eight to flanks," she said.
Millward is looking forward to putting her ruck strength and running game on show against the world's number one ranked side in New Zealand in the Tri-Nations across the Tasman in June, where she said she will be strongest.
She will also have the chance to strike Canada in the same event, before heading to Paris for the World Cup in August to impress heavyweights Wales and France in the group stage.
"They're very physical over there and you can just see the pure size of the girls in their teams," said Millward.
Like Stanley, Millward signed with the Whites in 2009 after a long stint in touch football, and made her ACT debut that same year.
The Australian squad goes into camp on May 28.