Former Wallaroo Vanessa Bradley had to turn into a rugby researcher supreme to track down all the links to properly honour every women's player for Queensland over the past 27 years.
The end result is the Cap Project that will be proudly unveiled at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night before the Queensland Reds-Melbourne Rebels match in Super W.
In all, 115 of the 238 capped Queensland players that Bradley identified will be there in person to be presented with an honour cap.
Being a software analyst and a passionate advocate of women’s rugby harnessed two essential elements to get such a massive project started.
She is enmeshed in the history herself. As a prop, the Cloncurry product played nine Tests for the Wallaroos, including the 2006 World Cup in Canada. She earned 30 caps for Queensland.
Finding ways to unearth long-neglected Queensland team lists, locate old rugby programs, fill in blanks and make contact with former players scattered across the country was a lengthy but rewarding process.
After more than a year of research, numbers, dead ends, scores and constantly updated spreadsheets, the Cap Project has reached this moment.
On Saturday night, the women who have represented Queensland over the past 27 years will be presented with an honour cap at a ceremony in the Suncorp Stadium Precinct Bar.
Through Bradley’s thoroughness, she has uncovered 238 capped Queensland Reds. Each has been allocated a unique player number.
Bradley’s greatest satisfaction lies in the future as well as honouring this roll call of high achievers for the Queensland Rugby Union’s Women in Rugby Round.
“For me, the greatest satisfaction is just knowing that it doesn’t end here. The Cap Project will keep living because there will always be more names and player numbers,” Bradley said.
“Hopefully, there will be young girls new to rugby who’ll want to play because they see this pathway and history to women’s rugby in Queensland.”
Bradley holds her own elevated position in this history with player number "16". She came off the bench at flyhalf in the first match played by the Queensland women’s team against Canadian province Alberta in 1996.
“I think I’m the only person to win a cap as a flyhalf and a tighthead prop,” Bradley said with a laugh.
Her tally of 30 caps sits behind only Selena Tranter (34) and Cheyenne Campbell (34) on the list of most capped Queensland players.
Current prop Liz Patu is poised to steam by all of them. She’ll play her 29th game for Queensland against the Rebels on Saturday night.
The Vintage Reds women will form a tunnel to cheer on current captain Shannon Parry and her team when they run out to face the Rebels.
Post-match, the women will be a involved in a cap presentation on field to the current Reds women before a lap of honour around the stadium.
It will be a celebration centre stage before the Reds and Brumbies clash in Super Rugby Pacific.
The process of tracking down players across the 27-year history of the Queensland women’s team was a daunting one.
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It means Caroline Vakalahi, who debuted for Queensland in 2005, is driving up from Queanbeyan and Kristy Pollard will be there on crutches from north Queensland.
Former Queensland lock Hilary Dyer is back from The Netherlands to receive her cap and she will take back with her a cap for Isle Oud, who played three games as a prop for Queensland in 2008 while on military service.
"The effort people are making is fantastic," Bradley said.
“Just to get in touch again with Julie Columbus, “The Bus”, from 1996 lifted the heart because she was so much the soul of the team in those days."
There will always be mysteries to solve. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Jane Hamilton, who played lock in the 1996 team, it would add another piece to a wonderful living jigsaw.
