Werner’s fresh start for Aussies in flag football

Ashleigh Werner had a plan for 2026: take a year off elite sport and focus on her corporate career, having landed a promotion at Accenture.

Instead, the 34-year-old former Australian women’s bobsleigh team member and Brisbane Broncos NRLW winger made a surprise leap into a third sport – flag football.

Remarkably, within two months, she played for Australia in the world championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, in mid-August.

Reflecting on yet another unexpected turn in her athletic career, Werner told The AJN last week that it came totally out of the blue.

“High level sport is so hard and unforgiving, so I’d felt I needed a break – and I meant it this time.