Ryan took full advantage, and the quick tap, then grubbering to herself to score the winning try for the home team in the University Sevens bronze-medal game at the University of Canberra on Sunday.

Scores were locked at 26-all with the 14 minutes already over when Canberra, featuring Ulladulla's Lily Murdoch and Cambewarra's Aroha Spillane, got a penalty and Ryan went to work, making it 31-26 to earn Canberra just their second third-place finish.

It meant they finished fourth overall in the competition, which was taken out by Queensland - who also won the gold in Canberra, beating Griffith 21-14 in the final.

Canberra's Rachel Crothers was named in the Uni 7s dream team.

Ryan admits she was a bit nervous when she decided to take the quick tap.

"I just saw the player had her back turned to me so I took a quick tap and then saw that opportunity to put the little kick through and it actually worked out," she said.

"I was a bit nervous, but took the opportunity and thank god it worked out ... it was pretty amazing."

It's the 17-year-old's first season of Uni 7s, having played in the youth sevens at the nationals in Brisbane last year.

She also plays 15-a-side and is part of the ACTAS women's academy and the Brumbies youth program - where she's preparing for nationals next month.

Australian captain Sharni Williams is an inspiration and someone she'd like to follow onto the world sevens stage.

"This tournament is the next level up and then after this it's up to Aussies, so it's definitely a great opportunity," Ryan said.

"[Williams is] a really big inspiration for all us girls.

"She said to us she only wants to be playing around her mates, and that's what we did, we welcomed her in and it was really good to play alongside her and her experience.

"Being only 17 it was really good to have her and some of the older girls, who had that experience last year and the year before."

In other news, Group Seven's Lauren Murty and her Sydney University side finished fifth after defeating UTS 21-17, as Rhiannon Byers' University of New England side placed ninth, downing the University of Melbourne 52-12 in a playoff.