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Michaela Leonard

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Michaela Leonard
Date of birth (1995-03-06) 6 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthCanberra
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
SchoolMacKillop College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022–23 Exeter Chiefs 4 (0)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–21 Brumbies (0)
2022 Matatū 3 (0)
2023 Western Force (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–Present  Australia 15 (0)

Michaela Lea Leonard (born 6 March 1995) is an Australian rugby union player. She plays at Lock for the Wallaroos and competed at the recent Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. She previously played for the Brumbies before joining the Western Force in the Super W competition. She has also played for Exeter Chiefs and Matatū.

Personal life

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Leonard graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.[1]

Rugby career

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2018–21

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Leonard plays club rugby for Tuggeranong Vikings and played for the Brumbies from 2018 to 2021 in the Super W competition.[2] She only started playing rugby union ahead of the Brumbies tryouts before the inaugural season of Super W in 2018, she was later named Brumbies rookie of the year.[3][4][5]

She was named as co-captain of the Brumbies ahead of the 2020 Super W season, but the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the NSW Waratahs were crowned champions.

Leonard made her debut for Australia against Japan in 2019.[6][7][8][4] In 2021, she was named as captain of the Brumbies for the 2021 Super W season.[9]

2022

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Leonard and fellow Wallaroo, Arabella McKenzie, both signed with New Zealand club Matatū for the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki in 2022.[10][11][12] She was named in Australia's squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series in New Zealand.[13][14] She was selected in the Wallaroos squad for a two-test series against the Black Ferns at the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[15][16]

Leonard was selected in the team again for the delayed 2022 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[17][18] After the World Cup, she joined Exeter Chiefs for the 2022–23 Premier 15s season.[19][20]

2023

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Leonard signed with the Western Force for the 2023 Super W season.[21][19]

References

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  1. ^ "Michaela Leonard". SportsCare and Physiotherapy. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ^ Ayers, Harry (16 November 2021). "Know Your Buildcorp Wallaroo: Michaela Leonard". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ Djordjieski, Michael (11 April 2020). "Q&A with Brumbies Super W co-captain Michaela Leonard". Riotact. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b Worthington, Sam (8 August 2019). "The crazy 18 month rise for new Wallaroos star". Fox Sports. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. ^ Tiernan, Eamonn (14 March 2018). "ACT Brumbies women prepare for historic Super W opener against Queensland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  6. ^ Dutton, Chris (12 July 2019). "Brumbies lock Michaela Leonard to make Wallaroos debut". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (28 June 2019). "Brumbies star Michaela Leonard 'gobsmacked' ahead of Wallaroos Test debut". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  8. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (21 June 2019). "Brumbies forward Michaela Leonard earns Wallaroos call-up". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Leonard to lead Tabcorp Brumbies for 2021 Super W season". brumbies.rugby. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  10. ^ Barclay, Chris (19 November 2021). "Rugby a steep learning curve for Australian import". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  11. ^ Williamson, Nathan (3 November 2021). "Arabella McKenzie, Michaela Leonard link up with Matatu for Super Rugby Aupiki". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  12. ^ Mitchell, Brittany (4 November 2021). "Wallaroos duo make switch to sample New Zealand 'intensity' before World Cup". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  13. ^ Williamson, Nathan (19 May 2022). "Wallaroos announce squad for Pacific Four". wallaroos.rugby. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  14. ^ Woods, Melissa (19 May 2022). "Nine new Wallaroos for Pacific Four rugby". 7NEWS. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Wallaroos name 32-player squad". ESPN.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Maya Stewart, Emily Robinson, and Asatasi Lafai named in Wallaroos squad to face Black Ferns". nsw.rugby. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  17. ^ Williamson, Nathan (7 September 2022). "Wallaroos confirm Rugby World Cup squad". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  18. ^ Worthington, Sam (7 September 2022). "Rugby stars to play two World Cups in a month". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  19. ^ a b Williamson, Nathan (7 March 2023). "Force nab Wallaroo Leonard for 2023 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Exeter sign Wilkins, Muzambe and Leonard". BBC Sport. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Five major signings increase Super W stocks". westernforce.rugby. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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