And she only played prop because she had to.
But Isla Pringle, from Clutha Valley, the only girl among 400 rugby players at the recent South Island weight-age tournament at Lincoln, still made it into the under 65kg tournament team.
She is believed to be the first girl from Otago to make that team, and the first girl prop from any province.
Isla (13) likes shopping for clothes with her mum, talking to her girlfriends, and playing netball, her father Tony said.
Playing tighthead prop, she did not buckle in any scrum and helped Otago to an unbeaten season and the winning of the tournament.
Isla, who plays No 8 or flanker for her Lawrence club side and captained the South-Western regional team, stepped in to fill the void in the No 3 jersey.
"It was different, different job in a different position. But he [coach Damon Sutherland] was looking round for props and I just wanted to play. You'd play anywhere to play for Otago," she said.
The Rosebank Primary School year 8 pupil said her girlfriends had no problem with her playing rugby, something she had been doing since she was 4.
Her father said Isla was just a "typical farm girl".
"She's not a tomboy at all. She still hangs round with her girl mates." Mr Sutherland said Isla had a fantastic tournament and could not be left out of the tournament team.
Black Fern Kelly Brazier made the tournament team in 2003 and two years ago, Georgia Mason, also from South Otago, made the tournament side, although they were both in the under-48kg weight grade.
Seven Otago players made the under-65kg tournament team; Isla, Josh Duff, Reon Lowery, Midge van Boxtel, Jack Clement, Charlie Baker and James Te Pairi.
It was Otago's first under-65kg win at the tournament since 2004.
More than half a dozen players from that 2004 team are now playing for Otago in the ITM Cup.
