Following the Grassroots to Global Conference here in Perth, RugbyWA is thrilled to share that Evan Konwawi Stacey has been selected to represent Western Australia at the upcoming Grassroots to Global Connect event, hosted by ChildFund Rugby and World Rugby at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Evan Konwawi Stacey was identified as the recommended state candidate through a combination of peer and staff evaluations, following the Grassroots to Global Forum hosted by ChildFund Rugby and RugbyWA. The Grassroots to Global Connect event will take place alongside the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and is hosted by ChildFund Rugby and World Rugby.
Evan’s selection as WA’s Community Participant Leader is a recognition of her leadership and contributions to tackling the barriers and driving opportunities for women and girls in rugby. Originally born in Canada, she was a former openside flanker before moving to Australia, bringing with her the perspective of both a high-performing player and now a community coach at Southern Lions and emerging leader in the Strength & Conditioning space.
Deeply connected to her First Nations heritage, Evan brings a culturally grounded and community-focused approach to coaching, particularly in supporting Pacifika women in rugby. She’s passionate about building resilient players, fostering sisterhood within teams, and leading by example.
Rugby has given Evan opportunities she never expected, and she’s now driven to give back to the game that shaped her. Her goal is to grow the sport, create inclusive spaces, and open pathways for other women, making her a strong advocate and Western Australian Grassroots to Global representative.
Joining Evan from the RugbyWA team will be Sarah Du Plessis, the General Manager – Community, who plays a vital role in the development of the women’s game in Western Australia.
Western Australia is the first governing body in Australia to host the ChildFund Rugby Grassroots to Global Forum, marking an important step in the development of the women’s game in Australia. The state forum provided an impactful platform where local voices were heard, and meaningful outcomes were set in motion. Following the forum, a future focus was placed on the launch of a Women’s Coaching Network in 2026, as well as a renewed focus on growing the number of female coaches and participants in every WA community club.
Leading the way for the nation, both Evan and Sarah will engage in a full week of leadership workshops and strategic discussions as part of the Grassroots to Global Connect conference program in Sunderland. During this time, they will share insights and recommendations from WA’s Grassroots to Global forum, including National Actions, participate in a Community Coaching Round Table alongside senior representatives from World Rugby, the IOC, UK Sport, and others, help shape World Rugby’s future Women’s Rugby Plan, and be part of the opening match of the Rugby Women’s World Cup 2026.
The Grassroots to Global Connect forum brings together leaders from 31 nations, uniting community voices to help shape the future of women’s rugby, both on and off the field. With a commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for women and girls in rugby, growing participation across all levels of the game, from grassroots fields to global platforms, WA’s representation will provide the opportunity to further develop the game in the state, and to learn from successes on an international scale.
RugbyWA CEO, Simon Taylor, said: “RugbyWA is incredibly proud to see Evan Konwawi Stacey representing Western Australia on the global stage at the Grassroots to Global Connect event. Her selection is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and passion for creating more inclusive and accessible pathways for women and girls in rugby.
Evan embodies the spirit of community rugby in WA - a passionate advocate, driven by purpose, and focused on building a stronger game for future generations. With both Evan and Sarah Du Plessis contributing to this international dialogue, WA’s voice will be heard loud and clear as we work together to shape the future of women’s rugby."
The Grassroots to Global Connect event will take place in Sunderland, England, from August 17, 2025. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup will commence on August 22, 2025.
