POLOCROSSE: Ryle Waugh admits it is a bit nerve racking but exciting as she prepares to represent Australia in intermediate polocrosse in South Africa on July 15-17.

Waugh and fellow Cunningham Polocrosse Club member Zac O’Leary are in the Australian team under the joint captaincy of Byron Davison and Farran Mathie.

For Waugh, the trip to South Africa will be her second chance to play international polocrosse.

She has played four Tests against Ireland at intermediate level for four wins and no losses.

She hasn’t a special program to keep fit but is working heaps of horses so will be ready for the trip to South Africa.

“I haven’t ridden the same horse two weekends in a row as I will have to ride an unfamiliar horse in South Africa,” Waugh said.

Playing for Cunningham most weekends would have her match fit for the international series, she said.

After making her debut at national level for the Australian intermediate team three years ago, Waugh wants to go on to play open polocrosse for Australia.

“Trying to make it into the Australian team for the World Cup in Warwick in 2019 is definitely in the back of my mind,” she said. Her father Allan was vice-captain of an Australian open team on a tour to South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1993, so is passing on some hints about South African polocrosse to his daughter.

O’Leary is a third-generation player for the Cunningham club and played for Queensland in a winning intermediate men’s team at this year’s nationals in Albury.

The Australian team will play South Africa in three Tests in Port Elizabeth on July 15–17.

The team of eight players and officials will leave Australia on Friday.