08/09/2026
A huge congratulations to our very own Bella Canning on her selection in Rugby Australia’s inaugural NextGen XVs U19 program. 💙🐟
At just 17 years old, this is such an exciting next step for Bella and a huge reward for the work, commitment and determination she continues to show in her rugby.
Bella was unfortunately unable to take the field with the Pink Fish in Saturday’s Women’s Grand Final, as she was away attending the Rugby Australia training and selection camp - and we’d say this is a pretty special reason to have missed it.
The NextGen XVs has been created to identify and develop Australia’s best emerging female rugby talent, giving young players access to specialised coaching, high-performance support and a clear pathway towards the next level of the game.
As part of the program, the Rugby Australia U19 teams will take the field on 12 September and 3 October, giving these talented young players the opportunity to compete and continue developing in a national high-performance environment.
We’ve loved watching Bella grow through the game and are so proud to see her earn this opportunity.
Congratulations, Bella - we can’t wait to watch what comes next. 💙
For anyone who would like to support Bella on her journey and help with the travel, training and development costs that come with pursuing these opportunities, you can do so through her Australian Sports Foundation page: https://asf.org.au/campaigns/bella-canning/bella-canning-sport--2026-the-next-step
