'I was in the wrong sport': Kiwi Fern Brianna Clark on her rugby league journey
Brianna Clark discusses her transition from college soccer in the United States to professional rugby league in Australia. She explains how her natural physicality was better suited for rugby, leading her to join the Kiwi Ferns.
Why it matters
The story highlights the personal journeys of female athletes and the growing professionalization of women's rugby league.
Brianna Clark wasn't built for the beautiful game.
After following her sister into football, Clark earned the opportunity to play college soccer in Iowa. But by the time that chapter ended, her love for the game had faded.
With a natural inclination for brutality, Clark was far more suited to contact sports and soon found one where her penchant for physicality wasn't punished.
After hanging up her football boots, a chance channel surf led to her next sporting chapter.
"I was a bit of a late starter to rugby league. I played a little bit of juniors, but then copied my sister and went into soccer and did a bit of a college stint there in Iowa. Then at that point I was pretty over soccer, I sort of fell out of love with it."
Now back in Australia, Clark came across a Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos test on TV.
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