Baker is best known for hockey skills - she's represented New South Wales Country and won Premier League titles with Bathurst City - while she's also played in the Bathurst District Football women's premier league competition for CSU.

So why did Baker join the ranks of CSU's women's rugby side?

"For something different. I was looking for a sport that's completely different to what I do, to learn something new and challenge myself," she said.

"One of my good friends [Minna Annand] played the last two years, she recently moved to Sydney but she couldn't recommend the team and the club highly enough. She absolutely loved it so I thought 'Why not?'.

"It's definitely something completely left field."

While never having played rugby before, Baker caught the eye of CSU coach Peter Plunkett when making her debut.

Playing at inside centre, she crossed for a pair of tries as the students got their North Cup premiership defence off to a good start with a 29-0 win over Narromine.

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Baker admits she was "absolutely petrified" before the game and while she felt it afterwards, did enjoy the new sport.

"I was worried about getting tackled and making tackles, but it comes naturally on the field. That's what everyone had told me, but it was nice and reassuring to see that it is," she said.

"I feel I'm picking up the game play alright, I wouldn't say I've struggled with that, but just how tough and physical the game was is something I did notice.

"After the first quarter I was just physically exhausted, more than anything that was what I noticed. It's definitely completely different to hockey and exhaustion there, it was so different to that and like going for a run or going the the gym.

"Getting in there tackling someone, or being tackled and then getting up and essentially repeating that, it was exhausting, but yeah I did really enjoy it."

As for hockey, Baker still plans to play when the draws for competitions allow it. She lined up for Bathurst City in last Saturday's season opener given CSU had a North Cup bye.

"I'll definitely try to play both, they do fall on the same day and I'm aware of that, but I still definitely enjoy hockey, there's a really good group of girls this year," she said.

Baker won't be part of CSU'S side that takes on Wellington this Saturday in round three of the North Cup.

It will be the students' second game of the season given they had the round two bye, while hosts Wellington have also played just one prior match.

That was a 33-19 over 2019 grand finalists Mudgee, so CSU won't be underestimating the Redbacks.

Kick-off at Wellington's Rygate Park is at 1pm.

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