2 GRACE K E MP

Age 2 1 (8 June 2001) Born Goulburn Posit ion Back-row Team Brumbies Countr y Australia

How did you get involved in rugby? I’m from the small town of Harden in regional NSW and my dad played for Harden Red Devils. My older brother and I grew up watching him play, then we started. I was about five or six, and on a team with two girls and the rest were boys. My mum let me play until U8s when it became contact. When did you get back into it? I had about a six-year break. I was at Young High and the Catholic school across the road had a team that they let me join. I also joined Canberra Royals U16s and I’ve been playing there ever since.

What is it about rugby that you like?

I love the physicality and that anyone can play, so many different bodies play. Your strengths? I love a good ball-carry! My big work-on this year has been tackling and I also want to get more knowledge from all the girls around me. How have you found this year? It’s been a massive step up. I went from Super W to club footy to Internationals. I’ve been in this squad since 2019 but footy dropped off with Covid, so to pull on the green-and-gold jersey and play Test-match footy is pretty special.

Who has been your biggest influence? It would have to be my dad. He got me on this journey. Footy-wise, without the Brumbies girls in the squad – Tania Naden, Siokapesi Palu and Michaela Leonard – I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today. We all push each other so hard in satellite training.

What do you do away from rugby? I’m studying primary teaching. I have two days of study a week and I work in a high school as a learning support assistant on the other days. Anything else we should know? I’m a proud indigenous woman. I’m from the Wiradjuri land and have played a lot of footy for indigenous teams. We’re wearing the indigenous jersey against Wales so that would be special.