First Nations’ Jarrah McLeod recently made his debut for the Australian men’s Sevens team at the HSBC Perth Sevens last weekend.
Reflecting on the tournament, the 22-year-old centre said it was not only an opportunity to compete at the highest level but also a chance to experience and share his culture on the world stage.
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From the very start, the tournament highlighted that connection. During the captains’ photoshoot, all team captains from both the men’s and women’s teams were presented with handcrafted Indigenous artefacts, recognising the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
“To be able to share our culture on a stage like that was huge,” McLeod said. “It reminds everyone that this land has a story that goes back 65,000 years. When we’re given space to show that, it makes wearing the green and gold jersey even more special.”
Rugby Australia’s First Nations Rugby Manager, Mathew Sonter, who officiated the cultural gifting, shared:
“On behalf of Rugby Australia, it was great to be able to present all team captains with a special keepsake to take home, a reminder not just of the tournament, but of the uniqueness of our country and its rich Indigenous culture.”
He continued: “I’ve known Jarrah since he was 12, and to see him - along with other First Nations boys and girls - progress in their rugby careers has been incredibly promising. I’m grateful for the opportunities that the collaboration between the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports and Rugby Australia is providing, which has made these pathways possible. There’s real momentum building amongst our First Nations athletes, and it comes at an opportune time as we enter what many are calling the golden decade of sport in Australia.”
Also proudly representing their First Nations heritage were McLeod’s teammates: Wallace Charlie in the men’s team and Mackenzie Davis in the women’s side.
As Australia prepares to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, tournaments like the HSBC Perth Sevens is helping set the stage by showcasing First Nations and Pacific cultures to the world.
McLeod’s breakthrough to the international stage came at the 2025 Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji, when he featured in the Australia A’s debut at the tournament, an opportunity supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program in collaboration with Rugby Australia.
His standout performance at Coral Coast earned him a contract with the ACT Brumbies, where he made his professional debut last season, and led to his selection in the First Nations Pasifika XV side that faced the touring British & Irish Lions last year.
Rugby Australia’s General Manager Pacific and Government Relations, Daniel Millis, added:
“PacificAus Sports has helped create genuine opportunities through tournaments like the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji and the Teuila Sevens in Samoa. These events not only raise the level of competition in the Pacific but also provide a platform for First Nations players to gain recognition and progress to professional and international rugby."
Mr Millis further added that, "Those pathway opportunities are ongoing. Earlier this year, we again supported an Australian development side to compete at Coral Coast, where they claimed an impressive third-place finish. The squad included six First Nations players, several of whom - like McLeod the year before - were making their first overseas appearances.”
