Former women’s rugby sevens Olympic gold medallist Ellia Green has opened up on his decision to transition from a man to a woman, revealing it came following a dark period in his life when he heartbreakingly thought about taking his own life.
The 32-year-old, who played for Australia’s women’s rugby sevens side between 2013 and 2021, went public on his transition back in 2024, claiming it was ‘the best decision of his life’.
He has now returned to the footy pitch for the famous Sydney Convicts team, which is understood to be Australia’s first openly gay and inclusive rugby union side.
And he is thriving playing in the men’s team, revealing to Nine’s A Current Affair that he has ‘regained my power back to myself’ while also ‘reminding myself of who I am and what I do best.’
It comes following a four-year absence from playing footy, and his journey back to the pitch has been an inspiring one. Green is also hoping his story can help give hope to other people in a similar position.
Green’s childhood dreams of achieving Olympic glory came true in 2016 after he won gold with Australia’s women’s sevens side in Rio.
Former women’s sevens star Ellia Green (pictured) has opened up on his transition from a woman to a man
Green (second from right) has also revealed how he’s ‘regained my power’ after returning to the rugby pitch after a four-year hiatus
The former footy star won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with Australia’s women’s sevens side
During his glittering career, Green represented Australia 149 times and scored a whopping 141 tries, the fourth-most in history.
Known for his blistering pace, Green was tough to stop when he got into his stride, racking up a total of 739 points during his career. He even enjoyed a spell with the New Zealand Warriors NRLW side in 2020.
However, not long after picking up his gold medal, Green’s mother, Yolanta, sadly died, following a long cancer battle.
He was then not picked to play at the Tokyo Olympics, a decision that he says, made him feel like a failure.
‘In that very moment, I was like, I am a complete failure,’ he said to A Current Affair.
‘On top of the pressures of being a professional athlete I was caring for my mum with a terminal illness for many years,’ he said.
Things began to spiral for Green, a selfless person who had always put himself before others.
But he then revealed how he snapped out of that spiral.
Green (right) also enjoyed a spell playing in the NRLW with the New Zealand Warrios
He has now returned to the footy pitch for the famous Sydney Convicts team, which is understood to be Australia’s first openly gay and inclusive rugby union side (Picture: middle row, third from right)
‘It was probably when I’ve been at death’s doorstep,’ he said.
Pressed further on what he meant by that, Green heartbreakingly said: ‘Attempts to end my life. That’s probably what made me think I should start prioritising myself.’
Green then underwent his transition, but added he was fearful over how people would view him.
‘People in transition are not accepted in many spaces and they are just bullied and everything. Me telling people would just be like: “I’m next”.
It also came just as he was about to become a parent, welcoming his baby daughter Waitui in 2022.
Reflecting on announcing to the world that he had transitioned, he said: ‘It was just the beginning of me being unapologetically myself and not being scared about the reactions of others.’
Despite never thinking he’d never return to the field, Green has rediscovered his love for footy.
Earlier this season he ran out for the Sydney Convicts to help them seal a 29-5 victory against Epping.
Green revealed he had spiralled into a dark period after winning gold at the Olympic Games
However, having returned to the footy pitch he is now hoping to inspire others and give them hope.
‘I was expecting myself to make some hits. I was expecting myself to run it straight, and I was expecting myself to score a try, that’s what I was expecting,’ he said, before joking: ‘None of that happened…’
Green, in fact, has been brilliant for his new side, scoring multiple tries since joining.
He was also pressed on whether he had received any backlash since returning to the pitch after transitioning, stating: ‘What I’ve noticed is that people online have more of a problem against trans women,’ he said.
‘The only thing that they’re saying is that, like, I’m gonna get hurt.
‘But I’m like, have you seen some of the athletes that play the Sevens circuit?
‘Playing against these athletes has given me all the preparations I need to go against a 100kg bloke.’
Green did not comment on the debate surrounding transgender athletes playing women’s sports but added that all people have a right to play sport, regardless if they are transgender.
But reflecting on his own journey, he added: ‘I just hope that anything that I’ve shared can inspire someone, give them hope. The greatest thing you can do is to love yourself and be proud of it.’