Long before stepping onto a Rugby field, Sevens rookie Piper Simons had plenty of tackling practice growing up with seven brothers.
"My neighbours always laughed because they said that they would hear me every afternoon playing rugby on the trampoline with my brothers so they were like, 'we knew you were going to be a rugby player, tackling them all the time'," she told Rugby.com.au
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Simons is one of the new faces in the Sevens program, knowing she'll have plenty of support as the youngest of nine siblings.
"They're all my biggest supporters," she said. "I grew up playing Rugby with them so they watch every game and send me lovely text messages and constant phone calls.
"They're all really proud."
The Manly product was originally told she would debut in Cape Town before a back injury to Bridget Clark fast-tracked those plans.
It led to a mad scramble to get family over for the Dubai event, which paid off spectacularly with a dream title on debut.
"I straight away ran to my phone because Mum had booked for Cape Town. I rang her and I was like 'Oh, I hope you haven't booked your flights or anything yet because I'll now be debuting a week earlier' so then she had to cancel all the Cape Town plans" she explained.
"I felt like I was dreaming. Everything was perfect and to get the win in my first tournament, I was just like, 'wow, I felt like someone needed to pinch me'"
Simons has plenty of support in the squad, having grown up playing touch with Mackenzie Davis and Kiiahla Duff from when they were kids.
She also takes inspiration from the likes of Faith Nathan, Sariah Paki and Madison Ashby, who came through the same pathways.
"I started playing with 'Kenz when we were maybe 12 or something and I played with 'Lala since we were about five s we're all really close and we just all support each other," Simons notes.
"We know how each other plays and how we need to prepare so we just always got each other's back and it's really nice to experience everything with them.
"I've always looked up to the girls in the team like Faithy, Sariah and Madi because they also came from Manly touch so I saw them go to the Olympics and I wanted to do that. I want to be just like them."
Simons has important duties on and off the field as the youngest, constantly on guard as the protector of 'Wally' - the team's mascot.
It's a responsibility designated to the youngest player in both Australian teams, with senior players tasked with trying to steal it.
"They're not as bad as the boys' team but Dubai I did get it stolen once or twice but from now on I've been pretty good," Simons said and laughed.
"I keep a lanyard on my neck and tie it around there.
"Teagan (Levi) was the first one who stole it off me but we have a funny relationship. We're like best buds so she was stealing my Wally but I'll get her back though."
