 Southwell in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1999-03-04)4 March 1999 (age 26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (11 st 11 lb; 165 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:RLP As of 22 February 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Jesse Southwell (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hannah Southwell (born 4 March 1999) is an Australian professionalrugby league footballer who currently plays for theSt George Illawarra Dragons in theNRL Women's Premiership. Primarily alock, she is anAustralian andNew South Wales representative.
She previously played for theSydney Roosters in theNRLW and theCentral Coast Roosters in theNSWRL Women's Premiership. Before switching to rugby league, she playedsoccer for theNewcastle Jets in theW-League and for theAustraliarugby sevens team.
Born inNewcastle, New South Wales, Southwell played junior rugby league for theKotara Bears. At age 13, she gave up rugby league as she wasn't allowed to play anymore due to her age.[1]
She is the older sister of Knights teammateJesse Southwell.[2]
Southwell signed withNewcastle Jets in 2014.[3] On 20 September 2014, she made her debut in a match againstPerth Glory, becoming the league's youngest goalkeeper at the age of 15.[4][5][6] She made six appearances for the team during the2014–15 W-League season. Newcastle finished in fifth place during the regular season with a5–5–2 record.[6] During the2015–16 W-League season, Southwell made 12 appearances for Newcastle and helped the team finish in sixth place with a3–5–4 record.[6]
Southwell represented Australia in theunder-17 andunder-20 national teams.[7][8] In January 2016, Southwell earned a call-up to training camp for theAustralia women's national soccer team.[9]
In late 2016, Southwell made the decision to switch codes and playrugby sevens.[10] She made her first appearances for theAustralian national team at the2016 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship, Australia winning the Championship after defeatingFiji in the final.[11]
In 2018, Southwell returned to rugby league, joining CRL Newcastle in theNSWRL Women's Premiership.[12] In June, she represented NSW Country at the Women's National Championships.[13]
On 22 June, she made her debut forNew South Wales, coming off the bench in a 16–10 win overQueensland.[14] On 27 July, she signed with theSt George Illawarra DragonsNRL Women's Premiership team.[15] In Round 1 of the2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut in the Dragons' 4–30 loss to theBrisbane Broncos.[16]
On 6 October, she started atcentre for thePrime Minister's XIII in their 40–4 win over Papua New Guinea.[17] On 13 October, she made her Test debut forAustralia, starting atcentre in a 26–24 win overNew Zealand.[18]
In May, Southwell represented NSW Country at the Women's National Championships.[19] In July, she joined theSydney Roosters NRLW side.[20] On 21 June, she started atlock for New South Wales in their 14–4 win over Queensland.[21]
In Round 1 of the2019 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Roosters in a 12–16 loss to theNew Zealand Warriors.[22] In October, she represented Australia at the2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[23]
In 2020, Southwell joined theCentral Coast RoostersNSWRL Women's Premiership team. On 27 September, they defeated theNorth Sydney Bears 16–10 in the Grand Final.[24]
On 20 October, she started atlock in the Roosters' 10–20Grand Final loss to theBrisbane Broncos.[25] After the game, she was named theRLPA Players' Champion.[26]
Southwell was a member of theSydney Roosters team that won the premiership in the postponed2021 NRL Women's season, playing in all seven matches including the Grand Final victory on 10 April 2022.
In late May, Southwell was named in the 22-player extended squad for theNew South Wales women's rugby league team, ahead of the women's State of Origin match on 24 June, 2022.[27][28]
She played in the Roosters' 2021 Grand Final win over theSt. George Illawarra Dragons.[29]
On 1 June, theNewcastle Knights announced that local junior Southwell had signed to play for the club in the2022 season, alongside younger sisterJesse.[30][31] She made her club debut for the Knights in round 1 of the2022 NRLW season against theBrisbane Broncos.[32]
In April, Southwell re-signed with the Knights on a contract until the end of 2027. She was captain for the Knights as they went back-to-back NRLW Premiers[33]
Southwell was granted an early release from her contract with the Newcastle Knights to return to the St George Illawarra Dragons on a two year deal.