There’s a certain feeling that comes with discovering a new passion. A sense that you’re where you’re supposed to be. The work feels less like work. On Saturday, Premier Rugby Sevens debuts as the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States. Through PR7s, athletes have a conventional method to becoming a professional in the fast-growing sport of rugby sevens.
Today, players that represent the United States at the highest levels; the Olympics, Rugby Sevens World Cup and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, were likely discovered in college. Current national team players Kristen Thomas, Naya Tapper and Abby Gustaitis all fit the bill of athletes that excelled in different sports, only to find rugby and fall in love.
In 2017, Amanda Hull discovered her passion for rugby in a less than conventional way – on Facebook.
Becoming a Professional
“I was playing around and stumbled on the KC Jazz Facebook page,” said Hull. “I reached out to see if I could come to a practice and that’s how it all got started.”
Unlike Thomas, Tapper, Gustaitis and others who are joining PR7s from the international ranks, Hull competes this weekend after earning her spot through a league tryout. Not only did Hull tryout, she stood out in a big way.
“She was the fastest of all the girls here, even with the size, so that’s a great combination: speed and power,” said the Olympian Tapper, at the PR7s open tryout in September. “Just her rugby skills and her ability to read the field. She had a lot of line breaks and even scored. So, to be able to come out and do that, on a team of girls you’ve never played with, is amazing.”
Those skills weren’t built in the past four years. There’s a similarity between Hull and her new PR7 teammates and competitors. Hull’s background is full of experience competing in sports outside of rugby. From track, to volleyball. Years of competitive dance to basketball, but something was missing.
“I had always played sports but never really found the one that I was in love with,” said Hull. “I fouled out in almost every basketball game I ever played in, I needed a contact sport.”
Contacting through social media worked. Hull practiced with the KC Jazz and found an outlet. While Hull admits she didn’t know what she was doing at first, it allowed her to tackle people and run with the ball. Rugby won Hull over.
Not Doing This Alone
This week is Hull’s first as a professional athlete. On Sunday, the four PR7 women’s teams, and six men’s sides, traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to build team chemistry and practice before their first tournament. For Hull, that meant having to take time off from work. A lot of work.
In Hull’s hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, she stays busy. Hull’s a special education teacher’s assistant at Blue Springs High School. When Hull’s not helping the next generation learn, she’s the strength and conditioning coach at St. Teresa’s Academy, an all-girls high school. Not to mention also playing rugby for the KC Jazz. What is free time anyway?
For the athlete of Premier Rugby Seven’s squad, the Loonies, Hull isn’t doing this alone. She’s felt support every step of the way. It’s an eight-hour drive from Kansas City to Memphis, where Hull secured her spot in the debut league. Thankfully Hull had a chauffeur – her dad.
“My dad’s my road trip buddy,” said Hull.
While her dad didn’t take her to this week’s training, he’ll be there for Saturday’s competition, and subsequent drive home.
That support to make it to the tryout didn’t stop there. They may have not been there in person, but Hull’s genetic and rugby families supported her the entire way. When Premier Rugby Sevens general manager Mike Tolkin called to give Hull the good news, that they were offering her a contact, she received a surprise congratulations from her team, with each teammate screaming and cheering.
Hull also feels the support from former coach, Maeli Fuimaono. In March, Fuimaono unexpectedly passed away from cancer. It was his consistent support that helped push Hull to tryout in the first place. To Hull, Fuimaono is family.
“I think being confident in the skills that he taught me and knowing that he would tell me to go,” said Hull about her coach’s motivation on her journey. “He would want me to be there. Anything that I ever talked about him with, if I was interested in it, and it would make me happy, he’d be all for it.”
Competing Against the Best
It’s because of Hull’s years of training and her support network that she is now competing with and against some of the best athletes the sport has to offer. Saturday, Hull’s team, the Loonies, start their first of three preliminary round games at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Hull will play alongside two-time Olympian Alev Kelter, who also currently holds the record for most tries in USA Rugby history. Also, Canadian Delaney Aikens and Americans Joanne Fa’avesi and Sarah Levy. All three have competed in some of the game’s largest tournaments, against the best in the world.
If Hull stands out on Saturday, there’s no reason to think that she can’t join those names at rugby seven’s highest level.
“That gets me so excited and pumped up,” said Hull. “Getting to be on a team with those athletes and being able to compete against them, it’ll be incredible.”
There’s no nervousness in Hull as she talks about Saturday. Hull isn’t just excited, but she’s grateful for the opportunity to not only play, but make history at Premier Rugby Sevens.
Everybody gets to be a part of the first professional rugby league for women,” said Hull. “It’s going to be huge.”
All Saturday’s matches will air live on Foxsports.com or the Fox Sports app. Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from Premier Rugby Sevens. You can follow Thomas Costello on Twitter @1ThomasCostello.
