The time of dual code juggling could come to an end sooner rather than later for superstar Millie Boyle, with a landmark year for women's sport looming.
Both the Rugby and Rugby League World Cups will take place in 2021, a year that shapes as a huge one for the women's football codes.
The 21-year-old has juggled high level rugby league and union in recent seasons and neither code has demanded that she choose yet.
In fact last year, Boyle played in rugby league's State of Origin clash for New South Wales before entering Wallaroos camp just days later and playing in the Japan Series.
With World Cups looming next year - rugby's in September in New Zealand and rugby league's in November in England - the fight for her services is set to intensify.
The first step is ensuring that Boyle is back to full fitness after battling injury problems in recent months.
Boyle missed the Super W season with a back injury and it isn't clear when she will be fit to return to action in either code.
The Reds utility is one of 20 players centrally contracted to the NRL through to October this year, something that is in essence an ambassadorial role for now, but a sign that she is a wanted player.
Super W players are not currently paid but Wallaroos players receive match bonuses for each Test they pay, with a new collective bargaining agreement yet to be agreed for 2021 and beyond.
While Rugby Australia head of women's rugby Jilly Collins said there was no rush for Boyle to choose a code, the time for that would likely come by the end of the year.
"She's been really good about it and we've been very open with here, we just keep talking and keep sharing what's going on," Collins said.
"There's still a lot to play out with that.
"We've got to be pragmatic in those situations, though, and we've been very transparent with our position.
"We didn’t want to play games with her about what the position is.
"As it stands, two world cups - rugby and the rugby league in 2021, there will be a decision to be made at some point."
Boyle spoke to ABC Grandstand Radio earlier this week, voicing her concerns about the future of the NRLW, which has become a talking point in rugby league amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“When it comes to the opportunity, we just want to be able to play and they’ve put in so much groundwork to get this NRLW competition up and running off the back of the last World Cup in 2017 and we don’t want to see that go to waste,” she said.
“If they pull the competition (it just undoes) the work that’s been done by the staff, the coaching staff, the players and the NRL and there’s a World Cup next year which is over in England which we’ve been working really hard towards.
“That’s kind of where we want the competition sitting, working towards that so girls have that pathway to be able to get into that from the Jillaroos program.”
Boyle mightn't be the only one with a decision to make in 2021 after the Olympics were postponed last month.
In 2017, Sevens trio Shannon Parry, Sharni Williams and Mahalia Murphy all played in the Wallaroos' World Cup squad.
With the Tokyo Olympics now to kick off at the end of July 2021, there could be less than a month between the Tokyo Games and the Wallaroos' World Cup campaign starting in September.
Details of the 2021 Super W season are yet to be confirmed but Rugby Australia had reiterated its commitment to staging the competition again in 2021.
Breakdown laws reinforced
World Rugby has recently moved to reinforce laws around the breakdown as they bid to reduce injuries in that area.
The breakdown contributes to nine per cent of all injuries in rugby but rather than tweak any current laws, as the international body has been wont to do in recent years, they have moved to
World Rugby have published some video guides in a bid to help the application of breakdown laws:
Tackler (Law 14): 14.5 – must a) Immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground and b) Immediately move away from the tackled player and from the ball or get up.
Ball Carrier (Law 14): 14.2 – Being brought to ground means that the ball-carrier is lying, sitting or has at least one knee on the ground or on another player who is on the ground. 14.5 – Tacklers must: d) Allow the tackled player to release or play the ball.
First arriving player (Law 15): 15.11 – Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet. 15.12 – Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck.
Other arriving players (Law 15): 5 – An arriving player must be on their feet and join from behind their offside line. 6 – A player may join alongside but not in front of the hindmost player. 10 – Possession may be won either by rucking or by pushing the opposing team off the ball.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said the appointed breakdown working group had landed at the conclusion that law changes were unnecessaru.
"The breakdown is the most dynamic facet of the game and it is increasingly difficult to referee, but just as importantly, it is responsible for nine per cent of match injuries," he said.
“Therefore it was important that we looked to identify ways to reduce the risk of injury, while promoting a fair contest for the ball.
“The group looked at a range of potential solutions, including potential law trials, but they unanimously agreed that the best practical and evidenced approach is to reinforce existing law, rather than law change.
“In particular, there will be focus on the ball carrier playing or placing the ball immediately, the tackler releasing immediately, rewarding the player who wins the race to the contest, penalising side entry and players who dive, not drive, into rucks.”
England chief floats shift to October Tests
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has suggested that England could travel to Japan in October with July Tests under major doubt.
This year's July Tests look almost certain to be cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, including Australia's Tests against Ireland.
Key powerbrokers around the world have floated various suggestions when it comes to trying to move or replace these matches and Sweeney hinted that an October tour could be possible.
Any potential Test series rest largely on international travel restrictions and whether sporting teams would be able to work with governments around travel and quarantine restrictions.
"We’re looking at a range of different contingencies,” Sweeney said.
“We might go there (Japan) in October. It’s all discussion and nothing’s fully nailed down. But one option is we would go down there, because obviously they’d rather host, they make more money when they host, and we’d come back and play our autumn internationals.
“If we weren’t able to travel to each other ... we’d want to do something to fill our gap.”
Rugby's artistic side coming out in lockdown
Rugby suspension and lockdowns is giving some rugby figures the chance to unleash their artistic side.
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read is one player using extra down time to be creative, posting a picture he drew on his Instagram this week.
Ex-Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell is also embracing art as an outlet, having a go at painting some amours no. 11s.
First up was Jonah Lomu.
One of the golden nuggets from @seanny202 and @drew_mitchell's Instagram live chat last week.
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) April 8, 2020
Which number 11 should Drew paint next? #WhatDrewDraws pic.twitter.com/LBsPul88l4
Switching roles
It's no secret that TikTok challenges have absolutely taken off and there are a few that have really stood out this week.
One challenge doing the rounds is partners dressing up, with the woman doing a danve and the man in a suit and then the pair swap clothes and roles.
We reckon Rebels centre Billy Meakes and partner Michelle Battersby have nailed this one.
