Wind the clock back around 12 months.

The 31-year-old was in a lull which led to her having serious self-doubt issues.

She was sitting on the sideline and not playing any sport before she decided to apply for a spot on Ultimate Tag - an Australian sports entertainment obstacle course competition.

She took out the ladies division and a tidy $100,000 for her efforts, but who knows what might have happened if she didn't give it a go.

"I had the silly mindset that I was too old and couldn't cut it with the young ones any more, but then I bit the bullet to do (Ultimate) Tag," she said.

"It re-energised me and gave me a different perspective on life. It was an experience and I'd encourage anyone who had the opportunity to do so.

"It doesn't matter what sporting ability or background you've got, have a go at anything because you might be surprised."

After taking out the competition in April, the Forster secondary school maths teacher linked up with some school friends for the kick off of the 2021 lower Mid North Coast rugby union women's competition.

It was a return to the field 15 years in the making and she has barely looked out of place.

While tag helped keep her fitness levels up it didn't prepare Buttsworth for the physical aspect of rugby union.

"It hasn't prepared me for the contact part of it," she said.

"Some of the forwards who run straight at me give me hell so I'd like to work on my defence a little bit more being so small.

"I've just got to get to training a bit more and get the girls to show me the ins and outs of making good tackles."

Buttsworth said coach Lauren Nott has played an integral role in the recent success of the club.

"There's no individual star and we all play for each other and when you play as a team, the collegiality makes you a good team," she said.

"We've got a good leader Lauren Nott who leads from the front and we follow her lead."

The Thunder host Wallamba at Andrews Park on Saturday with the ladies match to kick-off at 1.45pm. The men's fixture starts at 3pm."

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