Gemma Etheridge

Gemma Etheridge OAM (born 1 December 1986) is a semi-professional Australian Rugby Union player. She represents Australia in Sevens Rugby. Born in Tamworth, New South Wales and playing for The Tribe at a club level, she debuted for Australia in November 2012. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Gemma Etheridge
Birth nameGemma Etheridge OAM
Date of birth (1986-12-01) 1 December 1986
Place of birthTamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight66 kg (146 lb)
Rugby union career
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
- The Tribe ()
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2012– Australia
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam competition

Gemma Etheridge, who is the twin sister of fellow Rugby Sevens player, Nikki, is a qualified Radiographer from Tamworth, but calls Toowoomba home. Gemma is a utility and can play either as a forward or as a back. Gemma grew up on a farm and still spends a lot of weekends doing cattle work.[7][8] In November 2015, Etheridge was the first female Sevens Player Director to join the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) Board.[9] She was a member of Australia's team at the 2016 Olympics, defeating New Zealand in the final to win the inaugural Olympic gold medal in the sport.

At the 2017 Australia Day Honours she received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.[10]

References
  1. Newman, Beth (14 July 2016). "Rio Olympics: Australian Sevens teams announced". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  2. "Rio Olympics: Australia's men's and women's sevens squads unveiled". foxsports.com.au. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. "Rio 2016: Olympic squads named by Australia for rugby sevens debut at Games". ABC.net.au. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. "Australia's Olympic Sevens squads announced". Rugby News.net.au. 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  5. "Australia name a mix of veterans, young guns for men's, women's Olympic sevens squads". ESPN.com.au. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  6. "Key players return as Australia name Olympic sevens squads". worldrugby.org. 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  7. "Rio Olympics: Twins Nikki and Gemma Etheridge put medical studies on hold for tilt at rugby sevens glory in Brazil". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. Fairbairn, Pete (12 November 2015). "RUPA: Ed Jenkins & Gemma Etheridge join RUPA Board". www.rupa.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  10. "Gemma Etheridge OAM". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 28 January 2017.


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