The Queensland Reds have confirmed the signing of highly-regarded USA Eagles prop Charli Jacoby for the 2024 Super W season.
The signing of the 24-Test prop is a coup and potentially opens a new frontier for the best women’s players in North America to link with Australian sides.
Jacoby, 34, trained with the Reds for the first time in Brisbane this week.
“Even a couple of years ago, there just wasn’t any opportunity to play overseas if you were a women’s Rugby player,” Jacoby said.
“I’ve played for the Exeter Chiefs in England and now I’m excited to play a whole different brand of rugby in Australia which is more flashy, heads-up and fun.”
The Chicago native learnt to scrum watching YouTube videos when she took to Rugby late at 20.
Her mental make-up was well suited. Both her parents were truck drivers and she has a tattoo of an 18-wheeler on the inside of her bicep.
Coupled with her fierce desire to learn on the field, her rugby credentials now include the World Cup played in New Zealand in 2022.
The Reds can thank former assistant coach Sione Fukofuka, now the head coach of the USA Women’s Eagles, for steering Jacoby to Australia.
“I came back from Exeter to a 9-5 job and just said ‘nah’. I wanted to go play more rugby. I expressed to Sione that I wanted to explore some more and he pointed to Australia,” Jacoby said.
“I’d played with (senior Wallaroos) Lori Cramer and Michaela Leonard at Exeter so I’d heard about the rugby in Australia.”
She…
