Ashleigh Hewson

Ashleigh Hewson
Date of birth (1979-12-18) 18 December 1979 (age 45)
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight64 kg (141 lb; 10 st 1 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Flyhalf
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– NSW Waratahs (0)
2022– ACT Brumbies (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2017  Australia 18 (0)

Ashleigh Hewson (born 18 December 1979) is a former Australian rugby union player and captain of the Australian national women's team, the Wallaroos. She was a member of the Wallaroos squad at three Rugby World Cups — 2010, 2014 and 2017.

Early career

Before representing Australia in rugby, Hewson had been named in the Australia women's national soccer team, she also excelled in touch, athletics and cricket internationally.[1]

Rugby career

International

Hewson made her international debut for Australia against Samoa in 2009.[2][1] She was a member of the Wallaroos squad at the 2010 Rugby World Cup that finished in their highest placing of third.[1]

She scored a try for the Wallaroos in their opening match of the 2014 Rugby World Cup against South Africa.[3][4] She was the 5th highest points scorer of the tournament with 39 points, her side finished in 7th place.[1]

She captained the Wallaroos for the first time in their three match tour of New Zealand in 2016.[1] Despite a record 67–3 loss to the Black Ferns in the first game of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup, she was a stand out for her side in the second test.[5]

In October 2016, She was named as Australia's women's XVs player of the year, taking out the prestigious John Eales medal.[6][2]

Hewson captained the Wallaroos side in their tests against Canada, England and New Zealand in June 2017.[2][7][8] She later led the Wallaroos at the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.[9][7]

Super W

In 2018, She kicked an extra-time goal to help the NSW Waratahs win the inaugural Super W Grand Final against the Queensland Reds.[10][11]

She returned for another season in 2019 and led the team unbeaten, into a second consecutive home Grand Final against Queensland at Leichhardt Oval.[10] They narrowly defeated Queensland 8–5 to win their second Super W title.[12]

Personal life

Hewson was a prison guard in Sydney for 10 years and worked as a Services and Program officer with offenders who have an intellectual disability.[13][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Wallaroos to tour NZ with new captain". RNZ. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Phillips, Sam (8 June 2017). "Hewson ready to rip in for Wallaroos". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Wallaroos make strong start to World Cup". ABC News. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  4. ^ "WALLAROOS DEFEAT SOUTH AFRICA IN OPENING WORLD CUP MATCH". Melbourne Rugby. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  5. ^ Julian, Adam (24 May 2024). "A history of the prestigious Laurie O'Reilly Cup". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Wallabies vice-captain Michael Hooper scores second prestigious John Eales medal". ABC News. Sydney. Australian Associated Press (AAP). 27 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Hamilton and Hewson for World Cup opener". Sydney Uni Football Club. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Wallaroos name 11 debutants to face England". australia.rugby. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b Roberts, Millie (1 August 2017). "USyd Women's rugby players on the world stage". Honi Soit. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b Payten, Iain (5 April 2019). "Life after a fairytale finish: why Ash Hewson came back for more". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ Layt, Caroline (20 April 2018). "NSW win in extra time thriller". The Women's Game. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  12. ^ Layt, Caroline (7 April 2019). "Waratahs are Super W champions again". The Women's Game. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  13. ^ Jon Geddes (The Daily Telegraph) (5 August 2010). "Meet Wallaroos female prison guard Ashleigh Hewson". Retrieved 14 July 2014.