Retiring Wallaroos great Emily Chancellor inspired by mantra 'you can't be what you can't see'

As Emily Chancellor takes to the field for her final Test, she can reflect on a career that has helped pave the way for young girls to follow in her footsteps as a Wallaroos representative.

Chancellor's journey to becoming a Wallaroos great began when she was a 21-year-old university student, having only started playing rugby at that age. Growing up, she followed the sport but the women's game was not well-supported or promoted, and she admitted earlier this week that "rugby wasn't an option" during her childhood.

But as she prepares to play her final Test against Scotland at Canberra Stadium, Chancellor knows that her efforts to increase the visibility of the Wallaroos among young fans have paid off. There will be young girls in the crowd cheering on their heroes and dreaming of playing for the national women's rugby team.

Inspiring a new generation

Inspiring young fans has been at the forefront of Emily Chancellor's mind. "You can't be what you can't see," she said on the eve of her Test farewell. "I feel like that is something that has driven me so hard; to want to keep playing and pushing the image of the Wallaroos to a wider audience."

"I feel like I've had a positive impact on that over the last eight years. I love seeing the kids in the crowd, with their parents, excited. What excites me is that there has been so much growth when I look back over the last eight years, considering where I was when I was a kid and the visibility of the game in the women's world [at the time]."

"It's come so far. I'm really proud of where we've got to and how many young girls are turning up to games."

A stellar career

After 42 Tests, Chancellor will leave the game as a Wallaroos great. The 35-year-old appeared in two World Cups and captained the team during the 2025 season. She also had a stellar domestic career with the NSW Waratahs and played club rugby in the UK and Japan.

Aside from her on-field achievements, Chancellor cherishes the tight bond she enjoys with her Wallaroos teammates, describing the close-knit squad as a "sisterhood". "We're all struggling or thriving with the challenges rugby faces, particularly in the women's space," she said. "Be it pay, the lack of professionalism, or the striving for both of those things, I think that bonds you together massively."

A bright future for the Wallaroos

The Wallaroos are currently semi-professional, which has made it difficult for the squad to compete with the likes of England and New Zealand, both of which have full-time programs. However, the team is in the process of becoming full-time in the build-up to the 2029 World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia.

Chancellor believes the team's opportunities will be "limitless" when this is finally achieved. "You see how much natural ability the girls have, how much we do with so little in terms of game time at the moment," she said. "I get excited by what Rugby Australia did with the Aussie women's sevens team when they went full-time. A bit more hard work and time together … wow, I think it will be exciting."

While Chancellor will be enjoying retirement once the next World Cup rolls around, her commitment to the Wallaroos's cause shows no signs of diminishing. "We've still got a long way to go, and I don't plan on letting up on that goal of making it as visible as possible when I step away from playing," she said.