Rachel James and Jarrod Porter: Couple were in Cuba when COVID started spreading

The Werris Creek couple were on the island as part of a month-long overseas trip in January 2020, and they didn't have a phone service or internet access.

"So we didn't know about it [COVID] until they asked us about it at the Canadian border on our way home," Rachel, 24, said. "We were pretty lucky to get our trip in before everything started."

Before travelling to Cuba, the couple visited London and Paris.

Now back home, they are preparing for the long-awaited restart of Group 4 on May 1. James and Tickle play league tag and reserve grade, respectively, for Werris Creek.

James became part of the Magpies family via her relationship with Tickle, the elder brother of Magpies first-grade player-coach Cody Tickle.

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It's a relationship that began when she followed some of her friends, who were playing league tag for the Magpies, to the Commercial Hotel in Werris Creek one day.

Tickle, who grew up in the Creek, was there and introduced himself to James. The rest, as they say, is history. The couple now live together in Werris Creek, James's home of some six years.

"Yes, I am," James replied when asked if she was waiting for Tickle to propose.

James - a teacher at Quirindi Public School - joined the Magpies in 2019. Playing for the club has added another potent element to her Werris Creek experience.

She won the Magpies' players' player award in 2019.

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Werris Creek was "a beautiful place to live", she said, adding: "If you ask anyone I know, I tell 'em it's the best place to live."

Teaching was also a "beautiful" experience, she said.

"I love going in each day."

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