Eight players from the Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies have been named in the 32 player squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England later this month.
Katalina Amosa, Ashley Fernandez, Tia Hinds, Lydia Kavoa, Faitala Moleka, Tania Naden and Tabua Tuinakauvadra are all included, with Brumbies skipper Siokapesi Palu also named as captain for her national team for this tournament.
It will be the first experience of a World Cup for all Brumbies players apart from Naden and Palu, who were included in the Wallaroos squad for the 2021 tournament in New Zealand. Naden, 33, received her 25th cap for Australia in Friday night’s farewell win against Wales at North Sydney Oval, with Tuinakauvadra (two), Moleka and Amosa all scoring tries.
ACT Brumbies Head of Women’s Rugby and Pathways James Erwin congratulated the players on their inclusion and was delighted to see such a strong cohort of Brumbies receive recognition for their form.
"We’re very proud of the Brumbies who have been given a massive opportunity at the upcoming World Cup in England,” Erwin said.
“They’ve all made enormous contributions to the Brumbies this season and have worked phenomenally hard to earn their selections.
“Everyone at the club is excited to see them perform for the Wallaroos on the world stage, as they continue to raise the bar for women’s rugby in Australia.”
The Wallaroos will play Samoa in their opening group game on August 23 (9pm kick-off AWST), followed by an all-important clash against USA on August 31 (4.30am AEST) and tournament hosts England on September 6 (2am AEST).
The squad will depart for the UK on August 11 and be based in Manchester ahead of their first pool match against Samoa.
BRUMBIES PLAYERS SELECTED IN WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP IN ENGLAND:
Katalina Amosa
- Age: 23
- Position: Hooker
- Caps: 6
- Hometown: Riverwood, NSW
- Club: Gungahlin Eagles
- Height: 163cm
- Katalina arrived at the Brumbies in 2024, making her debut in Round 1 against her former club the Waratahs, having started her rugby career at Southern Districts in Southern Sydney. The sister of Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa scored a try in the 36-5 win over Wales at North Sydney Oval on Friday night.
Ashley Fernandez
- Age: 22
- Position: Lock
- Caps: 4
- Hometown: Yass, NSW
- Club: Uni-Norths Owls
- Height: 183 cm
- Ashley is a local talent who grew up playing rugby for Radford College before transitioning to her local club, Uni-Norths Owls. From there she was drafted into the Brumbies, where she cemented her position in the second row. She is the daughter of three-time Olympic rower and silver medallist in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Jamie Fernandez.
Tia Hinds
- Age: 22
- Position: Fly-half
- Caps: 6
- Hometown: Sydney, NSW
- Club: Randwick
- Height: 168 cm
- Tia has made a name for herself on the sevens circuit as an intricate kicker, developing skills while playing AFL in her youth. In 2022, Hinds was part of the women’s sevens team that achieved the Triple Crown (Commonwealth Games, World Cup 7s and World Series). She signed for the Brumbies earlier this season to transition to the 15-a-side game and prepare for this tournament.
Lydia Kavoa
- Age: 31
- Position: Prop
- Caps: 9
- Hometown: Sydney, NSW
- Club: Uni-Norths Owls
- Height: 171 cm
- Lydia began her journey into rugby at the Navy, where she played in the ADF Tri service competition at Ballymore Stadium in 2023. She was named rookie of the year and female MVP before being drafted into the Brumbies later that year, despite only having played for three months. She was quickly identified by the Wallaroos and brought into the squad. Kavoa made her Wallaroos debut against Fiji in July last year.
Faitala Moleka
- Age: 20
- Position: Fly-half
- Caps: 21
- Hometown: Blacktown, NSW
- Club: Uni-Norths Owls
- Height: 170 cm
- Faitala made a name for herself after a breakout season for the Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies in 2023. She was quickly pulled into the Wallaroos team in the same year, making her one of the youngest players to debut for the team and has since become a mainstay for the side, playing at fullback or fly-half. Away from rugby, she is a talented musician and dancer.
Tania Naden
- Age: 33
- Position: Hooker
- Caps: 25
- Hometown: Canberra, ACT
- Club: Uni-Norths Owls
- Height: 165 cm
- With strong performances for her local club, the Uni-Norths Owls, Tania was brought into the Brumbies environment in 2018 and has remained one of the club’s most consistent players. Outside of being the most capped Brumbies women's player, Tania doubles up as a project manager in Canberra. She received a milestone 25th cap for the Wallaroos in Friday night’s win over Wales.
Siokapesi Palu
- Age: 28
- Position: Flanker
- Caps: 21
- Hometown: Sydney, NSW
- Club: Uni-Norths Owls
- Height: 174 cm
- Siokapesi or “Pesi” as she’s known, is one of the few players that has skyrocketed to Test level despite only having started playing rugby five years ago for the Uni Norths Owls. She has also made the recent transition from centre to flanker and the move paid off in 2024, winning Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year. Known for her calm demeanour, Pesi has gone on to captain both the Brumbies and Wallaroos and will be the skipper for this team during the World Cup campaign.
Tabua Tuinakauvadra
- Age: 22
- Position: Number Eight
- Caps: 18
- Hometown: Orange, NSW
- Club: Tuggeranong Vikings
- Height: 173 cm
- Tabua is of Fijian heritage with her family from the Nadroga-Navosa province in Fiji. She grew up in Orange, NSW, before relocating to Canberra as a teenager. Known as “Bu”, she has gone from strength-to-strength after debuting for the Brumbies in 2022, earning her Test debut the following year in 2023 against Fiji.
WALLAROOS WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP DRAW: GROUP STAGE FIXTURES
- Saturday, August 23: Wallaroos v Samoa, Salford Community Stadium, Manchester - 9pm AEST
- Sunday, August 31: Wallaroos v USA at York Community Stadium, York – 4.30am AEST
- Sunday, September 7: Wallaroos v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium, Brighton and Hove - 2am AEST
