With the Wallaroos departing for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England early next week, lock Kaitlan Leaney has taken time to soak in the occasion ahead.
Having been in camp almost non-stop since the Fiji and Pacific Four Series Test matches, Jo Yapp’s side enjoyed a much-needed week off after Monday’s squad announcement, heading back to their respective states for time with friends and family.
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With the side set to depart from Sydney this coming week, Leaney has taken time to process what the last few years have been like as she heads to her second World Cup.
“It means everything,” Leaney said to Rugby.com.au.
“I think it's something that’s part of everyone's dream: they represent their country.
“It's the pinnacle of Women's Rugby playing at this World Cup and to have it in England, which is absolutely incredible as well. They’re striving for that platform at the moment for women's rugby, [with] that competition over there.”
The 2025 Rugby World Cup is set to be the biggest event in the history of Women’s Rugby, with over 300,000 tickets already sold for the event.
By comparison, the previous record, set by New Zealand in 2021, saw 140,000 fans come through the turnstiles; and Leaney believes the time is right to host the event in England after her own experience playing in the Premiership.
“[English fans are] definitely going to get behind the World Cup,” Leaney affirmed.
“I think, just the support that the women's program has over there. They have an 18-round competition where international [players] all over the world go to play in.
“The support they have from the fan base and young girls looking up to them. They're not in competition with many other sports, rugby union's massive over there, as well as football.
“They love their set piece, so I think it'll be a very forward-dominant game with scrums and line-outs and mauls. But we've got some electric backs that I think that if we can lay the platform up front as a forward pack and step up in that area, then we'll definitely give them a good shot.”
The massive growth in the women’s game internationally comes at a good time for the Wallaroos, with their program having undergone a massive shift since the last World Cup.
At the start of the decade, the Wallaroos had played just 55 Test matches across their entire history, and at the 2021 Rugby World Cup, Liz Patu was the most experienced Wallaroo with 29 caps to her name.
Four years later, the side is closing in on their 100th Test match, with ten players, including Leaney, now having more than 30 caps to their name.
“I think it's just we've had more test matches,” she added.
“We've had more camps together. The funding that Rugby Australia's put into the women's program has increased quite a lot. So I think just that in itself, we'll be able to get together more and play more games and build that continuity as a squad.
“I don't try and overthink it too much. I just take each test match as it comes.
“But obviously, I'm honoured to now have 31 caps for my country. It's something I'll never take for granted.
“I think it just shows that the continuity the squad's having: the more test matches we're having together, on home soil and overseas, is just allowing us to get that test match experience.”
Experience and exposure has been something the Wallaroos have been striving for over the last two years, with Jo Yapp aiming to improve the side’s physicality and consistency.
The side seems to be hitting its stride at the right time, with a big win over Wales at North Sydney Oval making up for a surprise loss at Ballymore the week before.
“That win in Sydney was really important for us,” Leaney explained.
“We didn't play the way we wanted to at Ballymore and we knew that.
“We were our own worst enemies that day, but having that win in Sydney is really important, building momentum, going into the World Cup. I think it was just to give a taste of what we could actually do out in that field and hopefully that will build us nicely going into this World Cup.
“The competition's really crucial within the squad and I think Jo's done that really well, building depth within the squad. We're competing hard for jerseys each week.
“Nothing's guaranteed and we're pushing one another at training every week and I think that's important, ultimately, to get the best out of us on game day.”
