Harlequins Women Bella McKenzie: From 's**t coffee' and rain to 'best comp in the world'
View all Arabella McKenzie newsAfter a brutal introduction to life in England, Bella McKenzie reflects on an influential season in the Harlequins quarters
Arabella McKenzie currently plays as a fly half for the Australia women’s rugby union team and Harlequins Women. She joined the national team in 2019 and made her debut in the same year.
Born on 1 March 1999, Arabella McKenzie spent her childhood in New South Wales, Australia. She lived in a small town called Lightning Ridge and attended a boarding school in Mittagong, a small town south of Sydney. As a huge rugby league fan, she began playing at school. But, after watching the 2016 Olympics, she decided to switch codes.
In 2017, McKenzie was selected to compete at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games. She faced Canada in the final and took home the gold medal. Just two years later, in 2019, she was signed to the Waratahs and made her debut during the 2019 Super W season. Additionally, she made her first Wallabies appearance in the same year.
Fast forward to 2021 and Arabella McKenzie enjoyed a successful season. She played well for the Waratahs and was subsequently named NSW Waratahs’ Super W Player of the Year. Her highlights included scoring 15 points during the final of the 2021 Super W season. This helped her team beat Queensland Reds and win their fourth consecutive title.
With a spectacular season under her belt, McKenzie transferred to Matatū for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki tournament in 2022. She also represented Australia at the 2022 Pacific Four Series, played in two tests at the Laurie O’Reilly Cup and competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.
In terms of her club career, it was announced that Arabella McKenzie had joined Harlequins Women in August 2022. When speaking about the move, McKenzie said she was excited to make her debut in the Premier 15s.
As such a versatile player who is capable of playing as a fullback, fly half and inside centre, we’re eager to see what the future holds for Arabella McKenzie
After a brutal introduction to life in England, Bella McKenzie reflects on an influential season in the Harlequins quarters
Emily Chancellor – part of a trio of Aussies who arrived in South London post-World Cup, along with Arabella McKenzie and Kaitlan Leaney – faced Saracens for the first time this weekend. The Wolfpack were, simply, much too good.