Ella Amory: Paving the Way in Women's Rugby, On and Off the Pitch

At just 24, Ella Amory is already a standout figure in the world of women’s rugby. She is a dynamic player for Trailfinders Women and as a passionate entrepreneur reshaping women’s pathways into elite sport.

From Brussels to Premiership Women’s Rugby

Ella’s rugby story began in Brussels at the age of 10.

“I was a bit of a tomboy, raised by two brothers and always super competitive,” she says. “My best friend at school picked up rugby, so I followed two months later.”

She was the only girl in her club for years. When she hit 14, there was no structured girls' rugby in Belgium, so she turned to athletics and rugby sevens. Eventually, she returned to club rugby at 16 and soon set her sights beyond Belgium.

Discovering open trials at Harlequins, Ella knew she had to try out. “I showed up and basically asked to stay,” she laughs. “Sometimes you just have to ask, or you’ll never get the chance.” She spent four years at Harlequins before making a career-defining move to Trailfinders Women.

With limited coaching infrastructure in Belgium, Ella largely taught herself the fundamentals of the game.

“I was literally in my garden figuring out how to pass and kick,” she says. “Just repping it, again and again, trying to get to the level I wanted to reach.”

The Belgian Sevens programme also played a big role in developing her fitness and skills, both of which helped her transition into the PWR.

Rugby, Coaching & Entrepreneurship

Alongside rugby, Ella also juggles coaching commitments and her own company. She is the founder of Offload, a platform designed to connect female rugby players with clubs, universities and unions.

“I tend to take on too much and realise too late that I’m burned out,” she admits. “So now I’m trying to plan downtime and actually switch off.”

“There’s something powerful in taking time to sit, talk, eat and recharge.”

Offload was born from Ella’s own experience navigating the rugby world without established pathways. It’s a platform where players can create digital rugby CVs and connect with clubs, universities, and other opportunities.

“When I started, it was just me trying to help one person get into rugby,” she says. “Now we've had seven or eight transfers, including one into PWR. I’m doing it to create chances for women in rugby.”

Long-term, Ella envisions Offload becoming “the hub of women’s rugby”. That means opportunities not only for athletes at the highest level, but also for grassroots players, schools, PE programmes, and eventually employment pipelines for retired players.

She also hopes to champion off-field equality, including standardised contracts for female athletes, with proper maternity leave as a key milestone.

While Offload has gained support from many players and coaches, it hasn’t come without challenges.

“Some coaches were hesitant at first, as they were worried that players would leave. But actually, it just puts the focus back on building great environments. If your setup is strong, players will stay.”

The company is rooted in a passion to make the sport better for everyone.

“There are people coming into this space who want to make money. That’s fine. But I want to make a difference. You can’t fake passion.”

Plans for the Future

With women’s rugby on the rise globally, Ella Amory is determined to make sure no one is left behind, especially those who don’t follow the traditional paths.

As she enters her third season at Trailfinders Women, she remains as committed off the pitch as she is on it.

“I’m the first Belgian player, across men and women, to play at this level. I don’t want to be the last.”