On Sunday 7 June, Queensland Rugby Union welcomed nearly 20 women from across the state to Ballymore for a very special occasion — Women in Rugby: Behind the Scenes.
The event was created to shine a light on the women who so often go unrecognised in rugby — the board members, committee members, club staff, and volunteers who show up week after week to keep the game running. From the Gold Coast to regional Queensland, these are the women who answer the emails, run the registrations, manage the budgets, and hold their clubs together. On Sunday, it was their turn to be celebrated.
A Conversation Worth Having
Before the Queensland Reds Women faced the Brumbies in Super W, guests were treated to an intimate Q&A panel featuring three remarkable women from across the rugby and sport landscape:
- Felicity Bennetts — General Manager of Wests Rugby Club and a driving force in Queensland women's rugby for over two decades
- Stephanie Karvelis — General Manager of Sunnybank Rugby Club, overseeing one of the most comprehensive women's and girls' programs in the state
- Nicole Comerford — Co-Founder of Inner Sanctum Sports Management and a passionate advocate for women in sport at every level
Across six themes — from how they each got started, to what genuine support for women's rugby really looks like, to the practical steps every administrator in the room could take — the conversation was honest, inspiring, and deeply relevant to everyone present.
What made the afternoon so special was the diversity of experience in the room. Club presidents, committee volunteers, board directors, and junior convenors sat side by side, united by a shared commitment to growing the game for women and girls in Queensland.
More Than a Match Day
The event was deliberately designed as more than a networking function. It was a moment of recognition — an acknowledgement that the women working behind the scenes in rugby deserve the same visibility and celebration as those on the field.
As the panel reminded the room, the future of women's rugby isn't just built by players and coaches. It's built by the people who create the environments where girls feel welcome, where women feel valued, and where the game has a chance to grow.
Thank You
A huge thank you to our incredible panellists Felicity, Stephanie, and Nicole for giving their time and sharing their stories so generously. Thank you also to every woman who travelled from across Queensland to be part of the afternoon — your presence made it what it was.
We can't wait to do it again.
