In Focus: Emma Sykes and her golden opportunity

Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 6:30 AM
Marty Cambridge
by Marty Cambridge
Ever wondered what it would be like to debut for the World Series Champions and Olympic gold medalists? We introduce Emma Sykes, part of generation next, as she prepares to make her pull on the Australian jersey for the first time.

It's rare that as a journalist you get behind the scenes access to any team, let alone World Champions and Olympic gold medalists. 

However, last tournament I got to do exactly that, allowed by head coach, Tim Walsh, to film the inner workings of the Australian Women's Sevens team as they prepared for the Oceania Rugby Sevens Championships in Suva. 

It was a squad that had some experienced campaigners and plenty of fresh faces from the side that won gold in Rio, with three members of generation next in line to make their debut. 

This is the story of one of those debutants. 

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