The Rio gold medalist shared the news with coaches and teammates towards the end of 2018. 

However, the 26-year-old is hoping to be back with the Australian Sevens side to defend their title at the Tokyo Olympics. 

"I am nearly at 20 weeks, so nearly at the halfway mark,” she told RUGBY.com.au.

"We found out at the end of last year, when I had my ankle surgery. So it was kind of good timing in that I wasn’t playing and not doing contact.

"At the moment the baby is due at the end of June so it puts me out for this whole season and this whole year."

Cherry will remain training with the squad until she elects to stop under a non-contact program under Rugby Australia's new pregnancy policy. 

Under this policy, introduced after the organisation saw rapid growth of professional women’s sport, an athlete can keep training (with no contact) until the point they choose to stop and take up an office-based “safe job".

Regular maternity leave then applies and when the athlete chooses they can either return to training and playing (if medically cleared), or to the safe job.

From there those returning to play will have Rugby Australia pay for a partner/carer to travel to tournaments. 

"I have been very lucky with Rugby Australia and RUPA setting up a way for me to still be involved within the team environment, training with the girls and being able to do gym with them, just staying in that environment. It’s been good for me and my mental state to not just get cut from the team and have to go do my own thing," Cherry said.