It didn't take long for her talent to be recognised - she was selected in the Manawatu rep side as a midfielder before a back injury sidelined her for the season.
After being identified as a long-term prospect, she attended several training camps before being named in the squad to travel to Dubai for the inaugural IRB women's world series tournament.
Burgess was then selected and named captain in the Taranaki women's sevens side to compete in a regional tournament in Palmerston North.
From there the midcourter became a regular fixture in the now defunct Western Flyers in the National Bank Cup,[2] before being signed with the Central Pulse for the inaugural season of the ANZ Championship.
[3] Burgess nevertheless received a call-up to the Southern Steel bench in Round 2 that year as a temporary replacement for the injured Megan Hutton.