Jesse Southwell

Jesse Southwell (born 12 February 2005) is an Australian rugby league and rugby sevens footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her positions are halfback and five-eighth.

Jesse Southwell
Personal information
Born (2005-02-12) 12 February 2005
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight77 kg (12 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022– Newcastle Knights 18 5 39 0 98
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023 New South Wales 2 0 4 0 8
Source: [1]
As of 7 October 2023
Rugby union career
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2022  Australia
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamTeam competition

Background

Southwell was born in Newcastle, New South Wales. She played her junior rugby league for the Kotara Bears.

She had played rugby league since she was a 5-year old child and only played rugby sevens for the first time at high school.[2] She also played touch football growing up.[3] Southwell said she was inspired by the Australian gold medal winning rugby sevens team at the 2016 Olympic Games.[4]

She is the younger sister of Knights teammate Hannah Southwell.[5]

Playing career

Early years

In 2020, Southwell made history by becoming the first female player to sign a contract with the Newcastle Knights.[6] In November 2021, she was announced as a development player for the Knights' NRL Women's Premiership side.

2022

Southwell played for the Knights' Tarsha Gale Cup side in 2022.[7] She was selected for the Australian sevens squad in April following her stand out performances in the AON University Sevens Series for the Newcastle University in New South Wales.[8] In May, she played a match for the Knights' NSWRL Women's Premiership side.[9]

She won a gold medal with the Australian sevens team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[10][11][12]

In August, she officially joined the Knights' NRLW top 24-squad after gaining an exemption from the NRL due to being underage.[5] In round 1 of the 2022 NRLW season, she made her NRLW debut for the Knights against the Brisbane Broncos,[13] scoring a try in the Knights' 32-14 win.[14]

On 2 October, Southwell played in the Knights' 2022 NRLW Grand Final win over the Parramatta Eels, scoring a try and kicking a goal in the Knights' 32-12 victory.[15]

2023

In April, Southwell re-signed with the Knights on a contract until the end of 2027.[16]

Southwell made her State of Origin debut for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2023 Women's State of Origin at Parramatta's CommBank Stadium.[17]

Her try against the Sydney Roosters was voted the NRLW try of the year.[18][19]

References
  1. "Jesse Southwell - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. "Emerging Athlete of the Month – Jesse Southwell". commonwealthgames.com.au. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  3. "Hunter Sports High School - Australian Representatives" (PDF). Hunter Sports High School. April 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. "Historic deeds from Aussie sevens inspire Southwell's charge at Birmingham". 28 July 2022.
  5. "Gold Class: Commonwealth Games Winner Southwell Signs on for NRLW". Newcastle Knights. 8 August 2022.
  6. "Jesse Southwell: Behind the scenes of historic signing" – via www.newcastleknights.com.au.
  7. "2022 Tarsha Gale Cup Elimination Final team list". Newcastle Knights. 12 April 2022.
  8. Williamson, Nathan (29 April 2022). "Southwell to debut as Australian Women's Sevens hunt for World Series title". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  9. "Jesse Southwell".
  10. Williamson, Nathan (5 July 2022). "Sevens squad confirmed for Commonwealth Games". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. "Australia and South Africa win rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games". www.world.rugby. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  12. Williamson, Nathan (31 July 2022). "Australia claim Commonwealth Games gold". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  13. "Late Mail: NRLW team confirmed for Broncos clash". Newcastle Knights. 21 August 2022.
  14. "NRLW 2022 - Round 1 - Newcastle Knights (W) 32 def. Brisbane Broncos (W) 14 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  15. "Knights v Eels". National Rugby League.
  16. "Home is where the heart is for Southwell sisters". Newcastle Knights. 19 April 2023.
  17. "Women's State Of Origin 2023 Series - Game - New South Wales (W) 10 lost to Queensland (W) 18 - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  18. "Newcastle Knights dominate Dally M Medal awards night". 2HD. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  19. Southwell's sizzler claims NRLW try of the year, 27 September 2023, retrieved 1 October 2023
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