The sight of two excited young fans greeting the Wallaroos on a cold North Sydney Oval night is an experience Emily Chancellor won’t forget any time soon.
The video, which has already amassed over 100,000 views across Instagram and Facebook over the weekend, serving as a great reminder of what the team is trying to inspire at the forthcoming World Cup and beyond.
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It was a moment that also allowed the Wallaroo captain to reflect on the growth of the women’s game, having taken up the sport at a later age in life.
“It was so beautiful,” Chancellor said to Rugby.com.au at Monday’s squad announcement.
“What a moment to be greeted like that by a couple of young girls before you sing an anthem. It really reminded me that we are those little role models for those young girls.
“I didn't start playing rugby until I was 21 because I didn't know you could. I watched rugby. I have dreams that I'd sit on the 22 with my dad and they'd kick me the ball and then they'd say, oh my god, you're so good ,come and play with us. And that was with the men's Waratahs team.
“There was no such thing as a role model for me growing up in the women's game because it just wasn't publicised that they played.
“To be able to be in the media, be a potential influence on someone else's desire to pick up a rugby ball or whatever it is that they choose to do is a really cool place to be, to be a role model like that.”
Having been in the squad since 2017, the 29-capped Wallaroo has had a front seat to the growth in the women’s program over the last few years.
With the squad set to depart for England in the next week, Chancellor believes the squad marks one of the strongest Australia has taken to the event, with a balance of exciting new generation players and a more experienced leadership group.
“It's so exciting to see,” she said.
“We've got a 17-year-old, a couple of 18-year-olds in the team. Their future is so bright.
“If they stick at it and go to a couple more World Cups, gosh, they're going to be in a good place.
“We've got a beautiful mix, the likes of Ash Masters, who's coming to a third World Cup, there's a large percentage of us who played in the last World Cup.
“It's not unfamiliar territory in terms of the pressures and the excitement and everything that goes on with a World Cup, but then to have a bunch of girls who this is their first one, they're not afraid.
“They're well prepared. They've earned the right to be starters or featuring highly in the squad at the moment. We've got a mix of people that don't have a preconceived idea about where we're supposed to be.
“They just know that they're really good rugby players. I think you mix that with experience and people that have had those experiences before and you've got a good blend of what should be a winning formula.”
With Siokapesi Palu aiming to be fit for their second pool game against the USA, Chancellor will likely continue captaincy duties for the side’s opener against Samoa.
With the two players have a firm hold on the leadership roles, Chancellor expects a seamless transition when the Brumby star is ready to return to the field.
“Pesi and I have been captain/vice-captain for the whole year and working really well together,” Chancellor explained.
“I've been enjoying the opportunity to have a little bit more of a voice and lead the team where appropriate. Getting the opportunity over the last two games to be captain has been really special and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.
“I don't think that leadership changes the way you play and it shouldn't change the way I behave in the squad either. So whether I have a title or not, it's not going to impact me.
“I'm very happy to step up and assist the team and lead if that's what they want me to do. But in the same breath, I'm there to be a regular player and that's what I want to be. And I want to be on the team and being picked to play.”
The 36-5 win over Wales served as the perfect round off to their World Cup preparations, and with the squad now confirmed for the World Cup, Chancellor is excited to put the growth made over the course of the last two years into practise.
It will also serve as moment to send off current head coach Jo Yapp off in style, with Chancellor acknowledging the head coach and the General Manager of Women’s High Performance, Jamie Fernandez for spearheading the development of the Wallaroo’s program.
“Being the first full-time female coach has driven a new standard, but a lot of that work comes from Jamie driving the high-performance piece back at Rugby Australia,” Chancellor added.
“It's a big duo factor there, Jo offers a lot in terms of the empathy that comes with a female coaching perspective. She understands the way we work, she empathises with the way we react to things, and she's a big driver of good rugby players, better people.
“I think that's something that she's really brought and allowed us to sort of flourish as young women as much as rugby players.
“It's been really great to have a full-time female coach, but just to have a full-time coach has been incredible for the program to grow.”
