NEWS: Wallaroos veterans Trilleen Pomare and Lydia Kavoa have announced their retirements from Australian Rugby.<\/p>\n
The pair made their decisions following a record-breaking Women\u2019s World Cup in England, where the Wallaroos reached the quarterfinal before going down to finalists Canada.<\/p>\n
A three-time World Cup representative, Pomare finishes her career in gold with 43 caps, the second highest all-time, after making her international debut against Ireland in 2017.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old proud M\u0101ori was born in Auckland before she moved to Perth, where she took up rugby and became a mainstay in the Force squad to captain the team.<\/p>\n
Pomare remains open to playing on in Super Rugby Women\u2019s in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so grateful for everyone who\u2019s backed me, believed in me and supported me through the different stages of the journey,\u201d Pomare said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started out just wanting to play footy with my mates, and somehow it\u2019s taken me around the world and being able to make a career out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll never be enough words of thanks for that, but the best way to honour it is by turning it into something bigger than yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish all my friends all the for everything in the future. I hope they never underestimate the impact they can have on people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kavoa\u2019s journey to a gold jersey came in different circumstances. She joined the Navy as a leading Seaman, where she discovered the game before joining Eastern Suburbs.<\/p>\n
Her debut in 2024 came at age 30, and she went on to play 12 Tests for her country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe past two years playing for the Wallaroos have been a journey for me. I made my debut as a back-rower and then became a prop in 54 days, where I started at a record-breaking World Cup,\u201d Kavoa said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to Jo Yapp and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to become a Wallaroo.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s allowed me to grow as a rugby player, meet legends along the way and creating lifelong memories.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time for a new chapter in my life with new goals, more growth, memories, laughs and smiles. I can\u2019t wait to watch the team succeed in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Interim Wallaroos Head Coach Sam Needs congratulated the pair on their successful careers in the gold jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of the Wallaroos we\u2019d like to congratulate both players on fantastic careers at the international level,\u201d Needs said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrilleen has been a mainstay in the Wallaroos squad for almost a decade and as our second highest capped player ever, her leadership and dedication helped shaped this group for the better.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work with she\u2019s put into some of our younger players coming through has been invaluable and will leave a legacy for generations to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cLydia is a great story on never giving up on your dream and her journey is one to remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo debut at flanker in July 2024, then play her second Test at loosehead prop in September is a testament to her determination and work ethic.<\/p>\n
\u201cFast forward to England at the World Cup, she showed that anything is possible when she more than held her own against the world champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re both honest and humble people and have been a pleasure to work with over the past two seasons and we wish them both the best in all they do in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
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