Evan Konwawi Stacey’s rugby journey has seen her take to the field in Canada, work behind the scenes in Australia, and will now see her represent Western Australia in England.
Later this month, Evan will travel to Sunderland, England, to take part in the Grassroots to Global Connect event, which will see representatives from over 30 countries come together to collaborate and explore opportunities for girls and women in Rugby Union, coinciding with the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
Evan’s journey through rugby is a testament to passion and perseverance - a player, coach, and strength and conditioning leader who continues to shape the game at every level she touches.
She began playing rugby in high school in Canada, where her school fielded a girls' team, providing her the first opportunity to get engaged with the game.
“I was always interested in the sport, but it wasn't until my high school had fielded the girls' team that I had the opportunity to play,” Evan shared. "I found my place as a 7 and never looked back.”
She then went on to play in the Quebec 7s competitions for five years, before life took her on a different path, and she moved to Australia after ending her playing career.
It was stepping into the role of a Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach that gave Evan a path back into the rugby community.
“I did some S&C personal development time with Cole on the Western Force women's side,” she said, “...then in the 2024 season, Southern Lions asked me to assist and S&C coach the Women's Community Team.”
“I am now the head S&C for both the Southern Lions Premier Grade Women's Team, and the NRLWA Women's State Team.”
The impact of the game on Evan has been profound, starting from when she first entered the game as a teenager.
“Rugby gave me a place when I didn't realise I needed one as a teenager, and I just love the sport in general. It takes a special kind of person to be able to get hit and get up again to give 100%.”
As she’s grown in the sport, taking on new challenges, her experience has continued to be positive.
“The Committee at Southern Lions are extremely supportive of me as a coach and allow me to steer the team through each phase of the season,” Evan commented. “I am very grateful to the club for the ongoing support they give me, and I do my best to represent the club and our girls, in the best way I can.”
“When I reached out to the Western Force there was no hesitation in taking me on board to do some PD, and that opened more doors for me to feel confident in my abilities and learn from others.”
But that doesn’t mean that being a woman in sport has been easy. When asked about her experience as a woman in rugby, Evan highlighted the internalised misogyny faced in the field, and the need to value the women’s game as equal to the men’s.
“When women's teams aren't deemed ‘as important’ as the men's, it makes it hard to ask for things, or to provide a positive environment for growing a women's team. To see that behaviour from even stakeholders and other coaches makes me want to push harder to make the female athlete more visible and stronger, better, faster.”
An incredible leader, advocating for equality within the rugby community and carving a space for women in the game, Evan shared that her proudest rugby moments aren’t her own achievements on and off the field, but the way her 11-year-old daughter sees her.
"She understands that everything I do is to be a good example for her for the future, and to ensure that she understands what it is to work hard and be able to achieve ‘cool’ things, even as a mom, and I am probably the most proud of her pride in me.
“She is always super proud and excited to tell people what I do, and of the achievements I've had before I even get a chance. Seeing her face light up as she tells people ‘My mom works with sports teams,’ or ‘My mom got picked to go to England for rugby!’ is pretty cool.
"...Even though we miss each other a lot when I go away for rugby things, knowing that she is proud of me as her mom makes me really emotional, and solidifies in my mind that my achievements now will pave a path for women and girls in the future.”
Heading to England for the Grassroots to Global Connect event is no small deal. 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. The forum brings together leaders from 31 nations, uniting community voices to help shape the future of women’s rugby, 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.
As to what Evan’s looking forward to the most, is to highlighting the outcomes of the Western Australian Grassroots to Global Form, particularly the focus on developing a Women’s Coaching Network and growing the number of female participants in the game, both on and off the field.
“There is a lot of ‘crazy’ happening in the world right now, and rugby is a safe space for some girls,” she said. “If we can create an all-female network where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to participate all the time, our sport will be better off for it.”
“Creating this opportunity for women in the future means that a next generation of female coaches won't have to fight so hard to get what they need, whether that's gear, uniforms, sponsors, or even staff.”
With Women in Rugby Round kicking off this weekend, Evan shares that she believes it’s the visibility of such an event that makes it so important.
“The majority of the committees, volunteers, team managers, etc., are all made up of women, who are predominantly volunteers, and after a certain point, that's just not okay. Women... get very little recognition for it, while also having to handle all the ‘issues’ directly or indirectly from others.
“The volunteering hours, love, sweat, blood, and tears they put into this game should be compensated, and a singular recognition round, though a great start, isn't enough, and isn't going to be enough for future generations of women to say, ‘hey I want to be involved because we're treated so well’, and that's what I would like to see change.”
Women in Rugby Round takes place this weekend, with all Junior Girls and Senior Women’s teams gathering at McGillivray Oval for a celebration of the women’s game. Evan’s Southern Lions side is set to take the field at 1:50PM, with their game streaming live on Stan Sports.
