Transplant Australia is proud to announce the inaugural Women’s National Team, set to compete in an exhibition tournament at the Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt this September.
The squad came together at a recent national training camp, where they trained side by side as a team for the first time – a proud and emotional milestone for every player involved.
Former Socceroo Craig Foster and Francis Awaritefe, Chairman of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and fellow former Socceroo, were on hand to watch training and present the players with a certificate commemorating their selection, lending their support to this historic moment for the club.
Meet the Squad
- Kate Clark
- Ronette Druskovich
- Rhanee Lester
- Chesney Maloney
- Rebekah Lord
- Christabel Smyth
- M’Leigh Brew
Christabel Smyth and M’Leigh Brew were unable to attend the presentation. They will be presented with their certificates at a later date, ahead of the team’s departure for Frankfurt.
Former Matilda, Trae McGovern, in Sydney to support one of the Men’s National Team players, also took the time to meet the squad, with the players capturing a special photo together.
A Historic Moment
This marks the first time Transplant Australia has fielded a dedicated Women’s National Team on the world stage, a significant step forward for women and girls in transplantation, and for the visibility of female transplant recipients in competitive sport.
Every player in this squad is a recipient of a life-saving organ or tissue transplant. Their selection to represent Australia is a testament to their resilience, recovery, and love of the game , and a powerful reminder of what’s possible after transplantation.
What’s Next
The team now turns its attention to final preparations ahead of the Transplant Football World Cup, running from 13-19 September in Frankfurt, Germany. Stay tuned as we share more of their stories in the lead-up to the tournament.
Congratulations to Kate, Ronette, Rhanee, Chesney, Rebekah, Christabel, and M’Leigh. We can’t wait to see you represent Australia.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit donatelife.gov.au.
A huge thank you to the PFA for their incredible support in helping get our team to the World Cup, and to Two Dogs Mitre 10 for sponsoring our team uniforms.
You can get behind the team by making a tax deductible donation by clicking the button below. Every contribution helps the players prepare and travel to Frankfurt.
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