Newly named Wallaroos captain Grace Hamilton found out in an unexpected way that she would lead the squad in the two upcoming Tests.
The 27-year-old was doing work on her Masters in Education when coach Dwayne Nestor called.
"He rang me I was actually doing my last assignment for my masters," she said.
"He kind of just threw it into the middle of the conversation and just like brushed over it.
"I kind of was lost for words and normally I have a lot of words.
"So I sat in my room alone, basically crying for half an hour before I called my dad. I was pretty overwhelmed and after that, I didn't know how I completed my last assignment, but I got through it."
It was just three years ago that Hamilton had missed out on the extended squad but since then she has become a regular face in the national team having made her debut in 2017.
It's a big year for the Wallaroos.
They will play two-Test series against Japan next month before playing two doubleheaders against the Black Ferns during the Bledisloe Cup series in August.
The team has not won a game since the World Cup in 2017 when they defeated Ireland 24–36 so with four matches in 2019, they are looking to build upon what they've learnt.
"We just want to spend some time together, get our structures and at the end of the day, we want to win," Hamilton said.
"That's why we're here and then I think we do have a really good shot at this.
"We just got to have that belief in ourselves and our abilities, the girls have the skills and just go to action and on the field."
The Wallaroos take on Japan in a two-Test series on July 13 at Sportsground no.2, Newcastle and July 19, North Sydney Oval.
Related Articles

Morri: Great golfers still come in all shapes and sizes

Shin shines in the shadows
