Leshara Takes Her Rugby Dream Overseas

Leshara Costello. Photo supplied: Jasmin Reynolds

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Thirteen-year-old Whitsunday rugby union player Leshara Costello is preparing to take her game overseas, earning a place in an under-16s team touring London and Paris in January 2027.

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Leshara joins talented players from across Australia as the team’s only Queenslander, earning her place just four years after taking up the sport. The rugby union pathways program gives young players the chance to compete overseas and experience the game in the country where it began, France.  

“When I first found out, I was shocked because I didn’t really think I would make it that far,” Leshara said.

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“But I’m really excited and looking forward to it.”

Currently playing at fly-half, Leshara comes from a family where rugby is a shared passion, with her mother jasmin and 3 other sisters also playing the sport.

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“She always did say she wanted to play for Australia one day, I just didn’t think it was going to happen so quick,” Jasmin said.

“When she got invited to the team, sentence that got me was, like, not only are you going to make your family, your friends, and your community proud, you’re going to be making Australia proud as well.”

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Jasmin said Leshara’s willingness to listen and improve had helped her progress.

“She takes constructive criticism, she works on it. If someone pulled her up to, hey, I want you to work on this- that’s what she’ll spend her next week doing, working on it.”

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While playing footy abroad is plenty to be excited about on its own, Leshara relishes the opportunity to make some new friends, learn their tricks, while also enjoying the sights of Europe.  

“I’m just, like, excited to meet them, get to know them more and just build more friendships,” Leshara said.  

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“Yeah, the Eiffel Tower, I’m so excited to see that,” she said.

Preparations include an off-season conditioning program and online meetings with her future teammates, ahead of a training camp on the Gold Coast.

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Leshara’s selection brought pride to her club, with her achievement showing other young Whitsunday players where rugby union could take them.

“It’s a huge achievement, especially at her age,” said Club President Craig Spence.

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“To have a talent to sort of play up two age groups is absolutely fantastic.”

He said opportunities for girls had grown as the region’s women’s competition developed, giving young players a pathway beyond mixed junior teams.

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“It’s great to see these younger kids coming through now from the junior ranks and getting a better opportunity now to play in a women’s team rather than a mixed team,” Craig said.  

“The kids around here can see, well, I play touch with her … and look where she is now, I can achieve that as well,” Craig said.  

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“It’s a fantastic opportunity for her, and we wish her all the best with it.”

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With January fast approaching, Leshara’s family is seeking local sponsors to help get her overseas. Fundraising efforts have included sausage sizzles, and businesses have the opportunity to feature on her jersey as she takes the field in London and Paris.