The visibility of women making a difference in every corner of the rugby landscape is a powerful message for International Women’s Day.
Across Queensland, the crescendo for Sunday has been captured by Women and Girls in Rugby Week with daily themes.
Playing the game is only one aspect when you think more deeply of involvement across the state as volunteers, match officials, administrators, leaders, coaches, parents and supporters.
Shannon Parry won an Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens in Rio a decade ago and was a long-time Wallaroo yet her service in the game is ongoing as the invaluable coach of the Queensland Reds’ flourishing Next Gen Sevens program.
Jo Staples’ heart, energy and expertise as a rugby volunteer in multiple areas was recognised at the Rugby Australia Awards in 2025 with worthy recognition by the Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award.
The club season is almost upon us and Felicity Bennetts (Wests) and Stephanie Karvelis (Sunnybank) are female General Managers guiding Premier Rugby clubs in Brisbane. They are huge day-to-day roles.
April Cavanagh and Sarah Zeljko sit on the QRU board as directors and Jen Gillett, the first player to 100 women’s games at Brothers, is a QRU Vice-President.
Playing numbers in 15-a-side and sevens rugby continue to rise across Queensland for girls and women.
Warwick Rugby Club President Tess Cullen sums up this sweeping involvement with the passion she infuses in everything when it comes to rugby.
“The greatest thing for me around Women and Girls in Rugby Week is the visibility,” Cullen said.
“It shows what girls can aspire to, it shows the place women have in the game and the safe space to enjoy it and contribute.
“’Women in rugby’ is not just people washing jerseys and managing canteens. You can referee, administer clubs, volunteer, support and show the way for others in lots of ways.”
Being a juggler also helps. Cullen is a powerhouse. At 29, she is entering her fifth year as the first female Club President at Warwick Rugby Club.
This is on top of being the Director of Rugby at Scots PGC College where six boys and girls teams give rugby a significant foothold in a rugby league town.
And did we mention she is a mum to two kids under five.
“I just love people playing sport. The rugby club is a bit of a hub. You are new to town, you turn up at the club and you start a friendship group,” Cullen said.
“It’s kinda bigger than the sport.”
Cullen is a powerful example of the changing rhythm of women’s rugby. She has revived the Warwick Water Rats women’s team for the first time since 2021 when COVID protocols forced the team to fold.
She watched rugby as a youngster, loved the sport but didn’t play. She dived into the administrative side in Warwick and pulled on the boots to play for the first time last year.
“Me, as a kid, would be so proud of what I’m now doing. I’m trying to be a person I’d want to be as a kid," she said.
Staples is a devoted volunteer. She won the Rose Bowl for club service in 2014 at Wests, a club which has long honoured wonderful contributions by women in rugby.
Julie Ryan (2000), Linda Bennetts (2006) and Helen Gold (2010) were also honoured on the medical front while Wallaroos prop Liz Patu (2018) and administrator Felicity Bennetts (2017 and 2020) have been honoured since. You'll find the names of Wallabies like Stan Pilecki and Roger Gould on the same trophy.
Staples has blossomed into a supportive Sport and Fitness teacher with TAFE Queensland, with rugby as a strong suit. She worked the sideline at junior representative games last year and radiates the best of the game.
The Nick Farr-Jones Spirit of Rugby Award shocked her.
"I was overwhelmed actually but it reminds me that what I do is important. I'm one of 66,000 volunteers in rugby in Australia and I was so so proud to receive the award on behalf of each and every one," Staples said.
Staples is another who sees the benefits of joining a rugby club as going far beyond catching a ball or scoring a try.
"I'm really passionate about what rugby and non-traditional sports can do for young women. If you come play rugby or get involved as a supporter, manager, coach or whatever, you become part of a community. I'm a big believer that the success you have translates off the field too."
