Mel Kawa: From PNG to France — Resilience, Rugby & Rising in Women’s Sport

Mel Kawa was born and raised in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea and moved to Australia at 14 in search of better educational opportunities. Her rugby journey began unexpectedly — a friend dragged her along to sign up at the University of Queensland, and three seasons later, a coach told her she had the potential to represent Queensland.

Back-to-back knee injuries couldn’t keep her from the sport she loves. Today, she plays for the Melbourne Rebels women’s team — and despite that, she’s a proud NSW Origin fan.

We talk about resilience, pushing through setbacks, the power of belief, and what life was like living and playing rugby in France. A powerful story of grit, growth, and chasing dreams.

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