Grace Kuilamu
Australian soccer player (born 2007)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grace Kuilamu (Fijian: [ku.i.la.mu] KOO-i-lah-MOO;[1] born 13 March 2007) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for A-League Women club Brisbane Roar and the Australia national team.[2] Kuilamu is the second player of Pacific Islander descent, male or female, to represent Australia at senior level.[3][a]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 March 2007 | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brisbane Roar | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2019 | Souths United | ||
| 2019–2021 | FQ QAS | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | FQ QAS | 15 | (5) |
| 2023– | Brisbane Roar | 20 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Australia U17 | 7 | (3) |
| 2025– | Australia U20 | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | Australia | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22 July 2025 | |||
Early life
Kuilamu was born in 2007 into a Christian household in Brisbane to a Fijian father, Reverend Ilaitia Kuilamu (who hails from the village of Navidamu in the province of Macuata)[3] and a Romanian mother, Oana.[4] She has five older siblings, though she was the first in her family to pursue soccer. She previously played rugby union, beginning at age 10.[3]
Kuilamu's parents ran the Brisbane branch of the Christian Mission Fellowship. She attended Sunnybank Hills State School and Brisbane State High School, where she had high grades.[5] As a child she played with Souths United in the Football Queensland Premier League until 12-years-old.[6][7] Kuilamu joined Football Queensland's Academy of Sport/National Training Centre (FQ QAS/FQ NTC) under-13s in the National Premier Leagues Queensland.[7]
Club career
Kuilamu continued as a forward with FQ QAS seniors team during National Premier Leagues Women's (NPLW) 2022–23 season.[6] She was awarded a scholarship in September 2023 ahead of the 2023–24 season by A-League Women club Brisbane Roar.[7] On 15 October 2023 she appeared in their 2–1 win against Melbourne Victory.[6]: 33, 40 She kicked a goal upon debut and became the youngest Brisbane Roar scorer of all-time at 16 years 216 days.[6]: 40 During the 2024–25 season she appeared 18 times for Brisbane and kicked five goals.[8]
International career
Kuilamu received her first callup for the Australia national team on 20 June 2025, when she was named in the extended squad for two friendlies against Panama on 5 and 8 July in Perth and Bunbury, respectively.[9] She made her debut appearance in the match in Bunbury,[10] becoming the first Australian of Pacific Islander descent (male or female) to represent Australia.[3][a]
Playing style
Kuilamu has been described as a bright young talent in Australian soccer, having been compared to Matildas and Manchester City forward Mary Fowler when she was as young as 17.[11] She aspires to play at the FIFA Women's World Cup and to play overseas,[12] namely in the Women's Super League (WSL) in England (though without a particular club in mind).[3]
Notes
- While Mary Fowler is of Papua New Guinean descent, Papuans are generally not classified as Pacific Islanders.
