RUGBY sevens, it started as “a bit of fun” for Orange’s Liv Patterson but now she will potentially have the chance to represent Australia in the modified sport.

Patterson, 21, will represent NSW at the upcoming 2015 Women’s National Rugby Sevens Championships, at Sydney in March - if she’s fit.

A self-proclaimed “injury magnet”, Patterson is battling to recover from shoulder surgery in a bid to contest the national championships, just months after recovering from a serious knee injury.

“I actually hurt my knee playing at half-time of one of the Waratahs (Super 15) games,” Patterson laughed.

“I’ve got another one-and-a-half months to prove I’m fit and ready to compete at nationals, and I’m confident that’s enough time.

“I’ve got fitness testing on the 17th (of January), but that’s a starting point with no contact, so we’ll see how we go.”

Patterson is no stranger to high level sport, having played at a representative level in several other sports, most notably basketball and touch football.

But even she admitted she had no idea what she was getting into with a full contact sport like rugby sevens.

“I was in Samoa last year, teaching PDHPE and rugby union for university and I got asked to go to a talent identification day and got picked in a side from there,” she explained.

“I went to my first tournament after that and I was absolutely petrified. I also played with (Orange) Emus in the women’s team in 2014, and Amanda Ferguson helped me out heaps during that time.

“ I love it now.”

After recovering from the knee complaint Patterson represented Charles Sturt University at the Australian University Games, winning bronze and earning selection in the Green and Gold team from the carnival.

“It’s all come on very quickly, and is very surprising,” Patterson laughed.

“Ultimately, the Australian Sevens team is a goal but really, I just want to enjoy what I’m doing and be able to get out and help whichever side I’m playing for.”

The 2015 Women’s National Rugby Sevens Championships will be held at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen, on March 6, 7 and 8.