(CNN) She was once the reluctant rugby player from a Rio de Janiero favela, now teenager Eshyllen Coimbra Cordoso is pulling on a Brazil jersey for the national sevens side.

A keen volleyball player as a youngster, friends would try to lure her to the neighboring rugby games on Copacabana beach but her reaction was always the same: "No, no, no rugby."

"My friends were always like, 'give it a go,' but I didn't like it," she recalled to CNN via a translator.

But over the weeks and months that ensued her curiosity got the better of her, and she dipped her toes into rugby on Rio's golden sands.

"I liked it, loved it even and then I started going every week," she said.

Her chance to take up the game was down to Rugby Para Todos (rugby for all), set up by Mauricio Draghi and Fabricio Kobashi in São Paolo where she now lives, but with a satellite project in Rio.

Eshyllen Coimbra Cardoso in her national Brazil colors.

Volleyball has long since fallen by the wayside but her rugby only truly became serious in the wake of the 2016 Olympic Games when she was inspired by the Brazilian national teams playing in the sevens competitions.

Rugby Para Todos were gifted a series of tickets to the Games, in turn passing those on to the children who had worked the hardest in training and been in attendance the most, among them Coimbra Cardoso.

"I didn't see Brazil win but that didn't matter," she said. "It made me realize what was possible."

Favela life

Two years later, she has represented her country after she was called up for the Canada leg of the World Sevens Series last month as Brazil opted for a mix of experience and youth development.

"When I was called up, at first I didn't believe it," she said. "The coach had to say it again. I thought, 'This isn't supposed to happen,' and really I didn't believe it until I landed in Canada. Then I was like, 'This is real, this is serious.'"

Her disbelief is understandable having grown up in one of Rio's notorious favelas -- where crime and drug trafficking are often rife.

But she credits her family for such a sporting rise.

"I lived in a favela but my parents both worked so it was never like we went hungry," she said. "It was a nice life, nothing to complain about.

"In a favela, you can either find people to help you or f--- you up, so you have to work hard to get out. It's hard but it's not impossible."

Photos: Rugby sevens round the world Over 100,000 fans attended the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The World Rugby Sevens Series will have another round for the women's competition in 2019 -- in Glendale, Colorado. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The men's series kicks off at the end of November in Dubai. Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The next stop is Cape Town. South Africa is the defending champion after pipping Fiji for the title in the 10-round series. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The event then moves to Hamilton in New Zealand. Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world Australia is the defending women's champion. Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The Las Vegas and Hong Kong legs are the only three-day events. Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world In May, the women's tour arrives in Langford, Canada. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The Hong Kong sevens has established a reputation for its vibrant fan atmosphere. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world Singapore's National Stadium has a 55,000 capacity. Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The 2019 series also welcomes Japan, who secured a place by winning the Hong Kong qualifier in April. Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The penultimate destination is Twickenham in London. Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Rugby sevens round the world The series comes to a close for both men and women in Paris, France. Hide Caption 13 of 13

She makes no secret of the fact her neighborhood had its issues but there was the option to make the right choices.

"I didn't get involved in trafficking or bad things like that so that was never a problem," she said. "My parents' philosophy was to show me the good way and I chose the good way."

'Rugby changed my life'

Her parents are understandably proud of her climb into the international ranks and she admits the only hardship of her rugby journey and relocating to another city is being away from her family, although she still returns to Rio once a month.

And she is grateful to Rugby Para Todos, which has seen thousands of people pass through its doors in another favela, Paraisopólis in São Paolo, since its inception 14 years ago.

"I never had the chance to know rugby until Rugby Para Todos on the beach, I never would have had this life without it," she said, "So I'm very grateful to Mauricio and Rugby Para Todos."

Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Biarritz, France – USA defeated New Zealand 26-10 to win its first ever cup title, but there was reason to be cheerful for the Black Ferns, too. They won the overall series crown with 110 points -- 10 clear of the USA. Hide Caption 1 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Paris, France – Fiji backed up victory in London by wrapping up the overall series title in Paris a week later. The Pacific Islanders defeated New Zealand 35-24 in the French capital to seal their fourth overall crown. Hide Caption 2 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. London, UK – Fiji won back-to-back London Sevens titles for the first time by demolishing Australia 43-7. Gareth Baber's side moved to the top of the overall standings after ousting title rival USA in the semifinals. Hide Caption 3 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Langford, BC Canada – The Black Ferns recorded their fourth title of the season in Langford, Canada, after beating Australia 21-17 in the final. Ruby Tui (pictured) made the tournament's Dream Team Hide Caption 4 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Kitakyushu, Japan – A last-gasp try saw Canada defeat England 7-5 to win its first title of the season in Japan. It was also the first time ever that neither Australia and New Zealand featured in the final four of a World Rugby Sevens Series tournament. The Black Ferns fell to the USA, while Australia was beaten by England. Hide Caption 5 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Singapore – South Africa recorded a remarkable comeback in Singapore to defeat Fiji 20-19 having trailed 19-0 in the final. Hide Caption 6 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Hong Kong – Fiji proved that its love for the Hong Kong Sevens -- the series' showpiece tournament -- is as strong as ever. The Pacific Islanders defeated France to win the title for the fifth straight time. The players are pictured lifting a ball boy in the air before the start of the final. Hide Caption 7 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Hong Kong – Meanwhile, Ireland earned core team status in next season's series after defeating host Hong Kong 28-7 in the final of the qualifier event. Hide Caption 8 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Vancouver, Canada – South Africa overcame France 21-12 to win its first title of the season. The World Series' defending champion saw off Argentina and Fiji in the knockout stages before outscoring Les Bleus by three tries to two in the final in Vancouver. Hide Caption 9 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Las Vegas, USA – USA's trophy drought finally came to an end as the Eagles secured back-to-back titles in Las Vegas, cementing their position at the top of the overall standings midway through the season. A comfortable 27-0 victory over Samoa handed USA the title. Hide Caption 10 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Sydney, Australia – The All Blacks Sevens secured their second title of the season after defeating USA in the final in Sydney. Hide Caption 11 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Sydney, Australia – That added to the Black Ferns' victory to see New Zealand complete the double in Australia. Hide Caption 12 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Hamilton, New Zealand – Fiji secured back-to-back victories on the World Series after a thumping 38-0 victory over the USA. Jerry Tuwai crossed twice in the final. Hide Caption 13 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Cape Town, South Africa – Fijian players huddle after defeating USA to record their first win of the season in Cape Town. Hide Caption 14 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Dubai, UAE – New Zealand players perform the haka after winning the Dubai Sevens title by defeating USA. Hide Caption 15 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Dubai, UAE – A 26-14 victory over Canada in the women's final meant New Zealand did the double in Dubai. Hide Caption 16 of 17 Photos: 13 locations, 16 tournaments, lots of tries. Glendale, Colorado – New Zealand's Black Ferns started the season is style by winning the Glendale Sevens, a new tournament for the 2018-19 season. Hide Caption 17 of 17

She is hopeful, too, that her own journey will inspire others, her advice simply that, "If you want something, you just go for it."

It is a philosophy that has held her in good stead and enabled her to pull on the yellow jersey of Brazil.

"I have nerves when I play rugby but to wear the jersey of Brazil, it makes you want to give everything you have," she said. "That, and rugby as a whole has been such an incentive. It's changed my life."