‘It changed everything’: Nasser eager to recreate her moment of rugby inspiration

Rugby has always been in the orbit of Isabella Nasser, her father Brendan being a member of the Wallabies’ 1991 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, and her brother Josh following in their father’s footsteps, making his Test debut in 2024.

However, as the Sevens co-captain prepares for a busy fortnight ahead in the final two legs of the HSBC SVNS World Championship, Nasser knows that the focus for their side is to find a way to down their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in Valladolid.

The finals table reset means that if the Aussies make the final and snap their losing streak to the Black Ferns Sevens, they would set up a winner-take-all scenario in Bordeaux for the Championship – a massive turnaround after the Kiwis dominated the regular season.

“Every match we play them it comes down to the rub of the green really, because we’re both very good sides,” Nasser told ABC News late last week.

“That one in Hong Kong really hurt. I felt it could have gone either way.

“That was definitely a close game, but New Zealand got the better of us for that one, unfortunately.”

Valladolid will mark the 25th tournament Nasser will play in Sevens, but her love of the shorter format of rugby extended back to 2016, being inspired to take up the code after seeing the Aussies’ gold medal triumph at the 2016 Olympics.

“It changed everything for young girls aspiring to play rugby,” Nasser explained.

“I never looked at rugby as a female sport until that moment. I feel there’s no other words to describe it other than inspiring.

“They paved the way for the opportunities we’ve got now and where women’s rugby is heading.”

Should Australia claim victory in the Championship, the result sets the side up well for their ultimate goal: to reclaim the gold medal when the side heads to the 2028 Olympics.

Having missed out on any medals in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, to triumph in Los Angeles would prove a full circle moment for the loose forward.

“It wouldn’t only be so wonderful for us individually and the team, but it would hopefully inspire so many other young girls hoping to be in our position one day,” said Nasser.

“I think that would be unbelievable.”

Beyond that, Nasser would be interested in also following her father and brother into the 15s code and push for inclusion at the 2029 Rugby World Cup, off the back of the increasing connectivity between the sevens and 15s programs.

“My focus now is very much sevens, but I’d love to experience the 15s path, particularly leading into a home World Cup in 2029,” Nasser added.

“I think that would be pretty epic to play in and something I’ll definitely look at in a few years’ time.”

The Aussie women’s Sevens side kick off their campaign this weekend in Valladolid, playing the USA, Fiji and South Africa in Pool B.