Pride Round, hosted at the Melbourne Unicorns Rugby Club, was more than just a game – it was a full circle moment for women’s rugby player Cerys Liley.
My full circle moment
Article by Cerys Liley
Melbourne Unicorns Rugby Club got me back into union after years of playing touch. I was the only girl training and playing with the Unicorn’s U14s boys back in 2021 during a testing COVID year.
There was no girls’ pathway in Victoria for me between the ages of 12 and 17. Girls could be dispensated to play with the boys until U16s but a dedicated pathway, specifically to nurture talented girls in rugby union, was yet to be developed.
The Melbourne Unicorns Boys included me as part of their team, regardless of my gender, and the feeling of acceptance and belonging meant the world to me. I was treated with respect and as an equal.
The Unicorns supported and encouraged me to keep playing and not give up, even when others said ‘Girls shouldn’t play rugby’. The sense of inclusion and belonging pushed me to pursue the game beyond Victoria, and I’ve never looked back.
The Melbourne Unicorns Women’s team have combined with my Melbourne University Women’s team for the 2025 Victorian Rugby Union season.
This week, four years after my Unicorns debut with the boys and just after my 18th birthday, I had the honour of wearing the Melbourne Unicorns jersey again and being made captain of the combined Melbourne University / Melbourne Unicorns Women’s Team for Rugby Vic’s Pride Round.
I’m so proud to have led a team of strong inspirational women and show every girl watching from the sidelines that rugby is a game for girls too.
Rugby is built on the values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect – and Pride Round is a reminder to live those values every day, especially when it comes to making inclusive space for others.
The simple act of wearing rainbow socks or running onto a field painted with a rainbow flag can spark important conversations and foster a sense of belonging that ripple across our sporting community.
I’m grateful to be part of a club and a sport that recognises the importance of visibility and inclusion – not just for one round, but all year long.
To every girl out there: if you love the game, don’t wait for permission. You belong here.
To follow Cerys Liley’s journey visit her website: cerys.rugby
Article first published on LinkedIn and reproduced with permission.
