'It's good to be back': How Lefau-Fakaosilea and others hope to supercharge the Wallaroos

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea is set to become the latest sevens player to make the jump over to Super Rugby Women’s and has rejoined her old side, the Queensland Reds, for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The announcement marks the first time Lefau-Fakaosilea has played in the competition in nearly six years – originally getting her start in the 2018 World School Sevens [now Global Youth Sevens] tournament, and being named Player of the Tournament at the 2018 Brisbane Global Rugby Tens.

A debut in the XVs format for the Reds followed in 2019, as well as playing for the Wallaroos before transitioning to the HSBC SVNS Series.

Her return comes at a good time for the Reds, who have lost Wallaroo Tiarah Minns, lock Deni Ross and French half-back Margaux Duces to injury, with Elisha Godsiff, Kieran Berry and veteran Australia international Sarah Riordan joining Leafau-Fakaosilea in the squad.

The Sevens speedster is keen to return back to the longer format of rugby and put some of her sevens skills into practise, while also learning more skills from players in the Reds’ squad.

“It’s good to be back home,” Lefau-Fakaosilea said on Thursday. “I’ve been away from the game for a bit, so it’s good to have her [Riordan] help me in and amongst the squad as well.

“Sevens is fast. I’m mostly really excited to bring that in and learn from the girls. From sevens to fifteens is quicker, more space on the field.

“I’m excited to bring that in, but I’m also learning as well.

“I love having the maroon jersey on and playing for the state. I love playing in front of my family and cannot wait to play in front of a home crowd as well. It’s been a while since [I’ve] played in Brisbane, so it’ll be pretty cool to play in front of my family.”

“Alysia has made a wonderful comeback this year,” Andrew Fraser, Reds head coach, said.

“We saw how diligent she was with her final rehab when we shared the gym at Ballymore with her.

“The plan has always been for her to become available for us. She is now and that’s great news.

“It’s unfortunate for the three injured players. The Super Rugby Women’s season is a sprint… what it does do is create some opportunities for good players who have been on the fringes.”

Lefau-Fakaosilea’s inclusion also adds to a rapidly growing contingent of sevens players in the tournament, with several international stars combining with a healthy crossover of stars from NextGen Sevens that feature in every Australian Super Rugby franchise.

She also becomes the third Aussie Women’s Sevens representative player to cross over into Super Rugby Women’s this year, with Tia Hinds and Piper Simons already making the jump into the NSW Waratahs outfit.

Hinds is yet to take the field for the defending champions after suffering a calf injury during SVNS Bordeaux, but is on track to feature later in the season.

Simons, who made her debut for the Wallaroos off the bench earlier this year against Fiji, has slotted into the starting half-back role for the women in sky blue, starting in every match and trial game so far this year.

“There’s a few girls making the transition into XVs, the feedback we’ve got back is that they love the environment and bringing the stuff they learned from XVs, and to sevens,” Lefau-Fakaosilea said.

“We’re learning from each other and you can see how it affects both XVs and sevens.”

Lefau-Fakaosilea is fresh off being part of the side that claimed the women’s HSBC SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux, but despite even getting messages from her uncle in Wallaby Will Skelton, the victory still hasn’t sunk in yet.

“He messages me a few times and his parents as well are really big on keeping up with my games,” Lefau-Fakaosilea said of Skelton.

“He just said congrats [about Bordeaux], which was pretty nice. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet that we’ve won, I think the girls are still celebrating.

“We did celebrate at the end of that tournament. All I was thinking about after our win was coming home and knowing that I’ll be home playing with the Reds girls.”

Her injection into the Reds’ camp has been noted by the veteran Riordan, who is set to finish her decorated career at the conclusion of the 2026 season.

“It’s good to have Alysia back,” Riordan said. “She adds a threat for sure. I know she’s excited about playing for the Reds again.

“If anything, I’ve just had to slow her down a bit at training because it’s a longer game in XVs, not seven-minute halves in sevens.”

With the cross pollination between the programmes set to only grow following her former head coach Tim Walsh stepping into the new Director of Women’s High Performance at Rugby Australia, Lefau-Fakaosilea is excited to see what the future holds for the game.

“It’s awesome to see the girls coming through,” Lefau-Fakaosilea added. “It’s awesome to especially learn from them as well.

“He [Walsh] can see the potential in all of us.

“I’ve obviously been coached by him for a couple of years now, he’s got so much passion for women in sports. I think that will be pretty good for us and the growth of the game.”

The Reds will be looking to bounce back from their 20-17 loss to the Force when they host the Fijian Drua this weekend at Ballymore, and Lefau-Fakaosilea, who made it to the 2019 Super Rugby Women’s final with the Reds, is set to be a valuable weapon to call upon off the bench.

“Whatever position Fraser gives me, I’m grateful to be on the field,” Lefau-Fakaosilea said. “Especially being home, playing in front of a home crowd and my family as well.”