Waiaria Ellis

Waiaria Ellis

Date of birth	(2007-09-11) 11 September 2007 (age 17)
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight	50 kg (110 lb)
School	Castle Hill High School
Notable relative(s)	Ben Ellis (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger Current team NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2024– NSW Waratahs (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2025– Australia 1 (0)

Waiaria Ellis (born 11 September 2007) is an Australian rugby union footballer who plays as a winger for NSW Waratahs. ^[1]

Early life

She played rugby league, Oztag and touch football in her youth, before representing Australia at gymnastics in 2022. That year, she played her first game of 15-a-side rugby union. ^[2] She attended Castle Hill High School in Sydney. ^[3]

Club career

She plays domestic rugby union for NSW Waratahs, featuring for the club as a 16-year-old in 2024, making her debut in the opening round of the Super Rugby women's competition in March 2024 against the ACT Brumbies, equalling the age record of teammate Caitlyn Halse as their youngest ever player. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

International career

In 2023 she played for the Australian Schoolgirl rugby sevens team. ^[7] In September 2024, she was calledup to play for Australia A against Samoa as a 16-year-old. ^[8]

She was called up to the senior Australia women's national rugby union team in July 2025. ^[9] She was named for her debut against New Zealand later that month, becoming the second youngest debutant for the Wallaroos history at 17 years and 305 days, behind only Caitlyn Halse. ^{[10] [11]}

She was named in the Wallaroos squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. ^{[12] [13]}

Personal life

She is the daughter of rugby player Ben Ellis. Her sister Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis is a rugby league player, for Parramatta NRLW. ^[14]

References

1. "Waiaria Ellis". Iltimate Rugby. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
2. Snape, Jack (10 July 2025). "Wallaroos name teenage sensation Waiaria Ellis to debut against Black Ferns as World Cup looms". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
3. "AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLGIRLS OPEN AND U16 SEVENS ANNOUNCED". Schoolsrugby.com.au. July 7, 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
4. Williamson, Nathan (Mar 13, 2024). "'She's actually insane': 16-year-old Waiaria Ellis set to tie record as youngest ever Waratah". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
5. "Is NSW Waratahs teen Waiaria Ellis Australia's smallest pro footy player?". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 Apr 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
6. "Tiny football schoolgirl Waiaria Ellis makes Super W rugby history". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 Mar 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
7. "TWO MEMBERS OF OUR AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLGIRLS TEAM, SHALOM SAUASO AND WAIARIA ELLIS, SELECTED IN THE WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR 2024". Schoolsrugby. May 2, 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
8. Williamson, Nathan (Sep 3, 2024). "Historic Australia A Women fixture against Samoa announced as teenage sensation Ellis headlines squad". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
9. "Wallaroos pick 17-year-old Waiaria Ellis ahead of New Zealand and Wales Tests". abc.net.au. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
10. "She doesn't play small': Wallaroos include young star in World Cup build-up". Rugby.com.au. Jul 10, 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
11. Wasiliev, Nick (10 July 2025). "17-year-old Ellis to debut, Duck in as Wallaroos unveil side to face Black Ferns". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
12. "Wallaroos announce squad for Rugby World Cup 2025". Rugby Australia. 4 August 2025. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
13. "Injury boosts as Australia names squad for Women's RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup 2025 England. 2025-04-08. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
14. Worthington, Sam (10 July 2025). "Australia pick pint-sized prodigy Waiaria Ellis to tackle world champions New Zealand in Wellington". Nine.com. Retrieved 10 July 2025.