Ebony Raftstrand-Smith

Ebony Raftstrand-Smith
Personal information
Born (2005-08-30) 30 August 2005 (age 19)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight75 kg (11 st 11 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2024– Nth Qld Cowboys 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 4 August 2024
RelativesTiana Raftstrand-Smith (sister)
Portia Woodman (aunt)

Ebony Raftstrand-Smith (born 30 August 2005) is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Background

Raftstrand-Smith was born in Auckland and is of Māori descent.[2] She was raised on the Gold Coast, Queensland, where she played her junior rugby league for the Parkwood Sharks and Coomera Cutters, and attended Keebra Park State High School.[3][4]

Her older sister, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, also plays for the Cowboys, and her aunt, Portia Woodman, is a New Zealand rugby sevens and rugby union international.[5]

Playing career

Early years

In 2021 and 2022, Raftstrand-Smith represented Queensland City under-17, scoring two tries in two games.[6][7]

In 2022, she played for the Burleigh Bears in the QRL's under-19 women's competition.[8] In October 2022, she played for the inaugural Australian Schoolgirls team on their tour of Fiji.[9]

2023

Raftstrand-Smith began the 2023 season playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the Tarsha Gale Cup.[10]

On 20 May, she signed with the North Queensland Cowboys, alongside her older sister Tiana, on a two-year contract.[11] In July, she represented Queensland under-19 in their win over New South Wales, and was selected to represent the Australian Schoolgirls for the second time.[12][13]

2024

Raftstrand-Smith played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the QRL under-19s competition before moving up to the Mackay Cutters QRLW side.[14][15]

On 25 May, she started on the wing in the Cutters' Grand Final win over the Norths Devils.[16] On 20 June, she started on the wing for Queensland under-19, scoring a try in their loss to New South Wales.[17]

In Round 2 of the 2024 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut, starting on the wing against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Playing alongside her sister Tiana, they became the first pair of sisters to represent the club.[18]

On 9 November, she re-signed with the Cowboys until the end of the 2027 season.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Ebony Raftstrand-Smith - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ^ "Rollercoaster ride for Raftstrand-Smith in her return to Māori team". NRL. 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "'Tiana is my role model' - Ebony Raftstrand-Smith". QRL. 22 September 2021.
  4. ^ "The trail blazing schoolgirls who have made history". Courier Mail. 26 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Tiana Raftstrand-Smith hopes to follow in her Aunty Portia Woodman's footsteps". Te Ao Maori News. 30 March 2017.
  6. ^ "2021 – Queensland U17 City v Country". 18th Man. 2 October 2021.
  7. ^ "2022 – Queensland U17 City v Country". 18th Man. 24 September 2022.
  8. ^ "'What a weapon!' - Ebony Raftstrand-Smith". QRL. 14 March 2022.
  9. ^ "History made as Australian Schoolgirls claim win in inaugural tour match". NRL.com. 7 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Raftstrand-Smith Joins the QLD U19 Women's Origin Squad". Canterbury Bulldogs. 4 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Cowboys sign Raftstrand-Smith sisters". NQ Cowboys. 20 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Australian Under 18 Schoolgirls team named". NRL.com. 7 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Six Titans named in Queensland Under 19 team". GC Titans. 4 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Cutters Chasing Unique Premiership Double". Mackay and Whitsunday Life. 23 May 2024.
  15. ^ "RESULTS: 2024 QRL Harvey Norman U19s Round 4". LeagueUnlimited. 3 March 2024.
  16. ^ "BMD Premiership grand final team lists". QRL. 21 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Queensland Under 19 women's squad named". QRL. 11 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Updated Cowboys NRLW team list: Round 2 v Dragons". NQ Cowboys. 3 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Cowboys extend seven". NQ Cowboys. 9 December 2024.