Hunter Academy of Sport alumna Ellazae Elers is set to reach an exciting new milestone in her sporting journey, having been selected to represent Australia at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in rugby sevens. A talented multi-sport athlete, Ellazae has been involved in the Hunter Academy of Sport’s Netball program and has represented her region, state and country across multiple sports, showcasing her versatility and commitment to pursuing excellence across different sporting codes.
Rugby sevens has been a major focus of Ellazae’s journey, with selection in the Rugby Australia Under 18s Squad from 2024 to 2026, the NSW Combined High Schools Under 18s team and the NSW All Schools Under 18s team across 2025 and 2026. She has also earned Australian Schoolgirls rugby sevens honours, including selection in the U16s Merit Team in 2024 and 2025 and the U18s Merit Team in 2026.
Her international experience includes representing the National Lloyd McDermott Indigenous Women’s Rugby Sevens team on its 2025 tour of Samoa, where the team emerged as champions. She was also selected in the Australian Schoolgirls squad for the Global Youth Sevens in 2026.
Ellazae’s talents extend well beyond rugby sevens. In rugby league, she has represented the Newcastle Knights in the Lisa Fiaola Cup and the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership. In 2026, she captained the Knights’ Under 17s Lisa Fiaola team and the Hunter CHS Under 18s and Northern NSW CHS Under 16s sides. She was also selected in the NSW Country Under 17s team and captained the side against NSW City in 2025, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player award.
Her achievements also span netball and touch football. Ellazae has been part of the Hunter Academy of Sport’s netball squad, represented NSW Combined High Schools in netball and earned selection in the Under 15s Australian Touch Football Merit Team in 2024. Her touch football journey also includes representing the Hunter Hornets and competing at NSW Combined High Schools and All Schools level.
Ellazae’s sporting achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, including being named among the top three nominees for Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the 2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards. She also won the Department of Education’s 2025 Nanga Mai Award for Outstanding Sports Achievement and was recognised as Hunter Sports High School’s Overall Sportsperson of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.
Balancing commitments across multiple sports while competing at regional, state, national and international levels requires exceptional dedication, resilience and adaptability. Ellazae’s journey highlights the depth of talent emerging from the Hunter region and the opportunities available to young athletes through strong sporting pathways.
Now preparing to represent Australia at the Youth Olympic Games, Ellazae is taking another significant step in her sporting career.
Regional Academies of Sport is proud to celebrate Ellazae’s achievements and looks forward to following her journey as she represents Australia on the international stage.
