Nicole Beck is a female Australian rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 player who plays as a wing for Australia

Australia women's national rugby union team

The Australia national women's rugby union team, also known as the Wallaroos, are the national women's rugby union team of Australia. The Wallaroos have competed at three Women's Rugby World Cups in the past; in 1998, 2002, 2006 and the current 2010 event.Australian women have been playing rugby...

, Sydney and Sydney University

Sydney University Football Club

Sydney University Football Club, founded in 1863 , is the oldest club now playing rugby union in Australia, and as such is nicknamed "The Birthplace of Australian Rugby" or simply "The Birthplace".The club are the current NSWRU Premiers.The club was a member of the inaugural Sydney club competition...

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A former Australian touch football

Touch football (rugby league)

Touch is a field sport also known as Touch Football, or in some countries as Touch Rugby. Touch is overseen worldwide by the Federation of International Touch . Touch has traditionally been played in Australia and New Zealand but the sport has expanded internationally and features many regional and...

 representative, she was selected by Wallaroos

Australia women's national rugby union team

The Australia national women's rugby union team, also known as the Wallaroos, are the national women's rugby union team of Australia. The Wallaroos have competed at three Women's Rugby World Cups in the past; in 1998, 2002, 2006 and the current 2010 event.Australian women have been playing rugby...

 coach Steve Hamson after just two games of 15-a-side rugby and made her international debut in the test match lost 36-3 to the Black Ferns on 14 October 2008 at Viking Park

Viking Park

Viking Park is an 8,000 capacity stadium in Canberra, Australia. It has a rectangular playing surface which is used to host rugby union matches. It is home to the Tuggeranong Vikings and all matches in the ACT rugby finals are played here. The Canberra Vikings also played there in 2004 & 2005 when...

 in Canberra

Canberra

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...

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Only a few months before, Beck had been chosen to play with Australia Women’s Sevens for the 2009 World Cup

2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens

The 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup was the fifth edition of the Rugby sevens world cup. The International Rugby Board selected Dubai in the United Arab Emirates as the host venue for the tournament ahead of bids from four other countries. The format included nine direct qualifiers and a further...

 qualifiers scheduled on 25–26 July 2008 at Apia Park

Apia Park

Apia Park is a multi-function sports complex located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Primarily used for rugby union events, Apia Park is the home stadium of the Samoa national rugby union team, Manu Samoa....

 in Samoa

Samoa

Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...

. She scored a decisive try on full-time in the 22-15 win against New Zealand, claiming the Oceania Sevens champions title.

The following year Australia won the Rugby World Cup Sevens defeating 15-10 New Zealand in a final started with a try by Beck in the second minute and ended in extra-time with a golden point strike by Shelly Matcham.

She played an important role in Australia's third place at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup

2010 Women's Rugby World Cup

The 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup was the sixth edition of the Women's Rugby World Cup and was being held in England. The International Rugby Board Executive Committee selected the host union following a recommendation from the Rugby World Cup Limited board after considering bids from the Rugby...

, scoring 1 try, 11 conversions and 1 penalty, becoming one of the nominees for the 2010 IRB Women's Personality of the Year and pulling off a great try-saving tackle on Fiona Pocock during the semi-final against England

England women's national rugby union team

The England women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of England, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1982.-History:Women’s Rugby was first played seriously in Great Britain in the late 1970s...

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Beck currently studies Physical and Health Education at the University of Wollongong

University of Wollongong

The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...

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