Wallaroos prop and active Navy Seaman Lydia Kavoa is ready to celebrate her first anniversary of playing front-row by testing herself against the best.
Kavoa has been named to start for Australia against world number one England on Sunday (AEST) in front of what’s expected to be a packed crowd in Brighton.
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The 31-year-old was convicted to move from the back row by Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp after initially being spotted playing for the Navy in the ADF Tri service competition.
It came at a time when the Wallaroos were in desperate need of a front-rower after several injuries, including Bri Hoy’s season-ending ACL injury, with Kavoa throwing herself into the role.
"At first I was like, 'no, I’m back row' because there’s this massive stigma that you’ve gotten slower and you’ve put on weight,” she said to reporters. “I went away and thought about it and she [Jo Yapp] told me, 'I want to take you to a World Cup, but your opportunity will be in the front row' so I said 'OK, when do we start?'
"Jo [Yapp, head coach] had a really honest conversation with me. I went away and thought, 'do I really want to do it?' My dad was like 'if you’re going to do it, make sure all your eggs are in one basket and give it a decent crack, go all in, because you can’t half-ass it’."
It’s a move Kavoa has not regretted since.
She was rushed into play against Ireland last year despite her previous front-row experience consisting of a ten-minute stint for club side Wests-Norths Owls and has been a consistent member of the squad since
“I came out of that scrum [in the club game] and I was like, 'Nah, I can't do this, I can't do this'. Next thing you know, we go on a WXV trial match against Ireland in Belfast and they’re like you’re coming off the bench so I was doing something right,” she said.
“I really needed that Super season at loose head to come into this as a strong competitor.”
Now Kavoa will start for her country on the biggest stage so far for the Australians, facing the world-class English at a sold-out Brighton & Hove Stadium, the home of the Premier League side.
"I’m literally still pinching myself, because one of my key goals was to try and start this World Cup and after last week's game, I didn’t think I’d play,” she admits.
“They caught me off guard. It’s a huge honour. I just want to try and be in the moment on Saturday…As an older player I have a feeling I won't be around for too much longer so, one of my things coming into the World Cup is to really be present.”
Kavoa is technically classified as on duty for the Navy during this Rugby World Cup, falling under elite athlete status.
The New Zealand-born forward has served 11 years with the Navy, set to take a well-deserved long-service leave after the World Cup.
Kavoa got the chance for both her worlds to combine when she read the Ode at the ANZAC Weekend Round match between the ACT Brumbies and Hurricanes.
“So surreal. I am extremely grateful to be in the position that I am, being able to still serve and play for Australia, especially with the opportunity to recite the Ode,” Kavoa added.
“That was a huge achievement for me, and it meant a lot just to be able to do both things and still be like 100% supported by the Navy.
“I pinch myself.”
