Natasha Rigby

Australian soccer player

Natasha Rigby
Personal information
Rigby playing for Perth Glory in 2018
Full name	Natasha Rigby
Date of birth	(1993-01-24) 24 January 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Margaret River, Australia
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Perth Glory
Number	4
Youth career
2008–10	Western Australia U16
	University of Western Australia
	Queens Park SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–	Perth Glory	102	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 December 2023 (UTC)

Natasha Rigby is an Australian soccer player who plays for the Perth Glory in the A-League Women, where she is the captain.

Early life

Rigby grew up in Margaret River, a small town south of Perth. There was no girls' soccer team, and she played with the boys.^[1] Between the ages of 15 and 17, Rigby represented Western Australia in the National Youth Championships.^[2]^[3]

At age 18, Rigby moved to Perth to study sports science at the University of Western Australia, where she also played in the state league.^[4]

Club career

Rigby was given an opportunity with the Glory for the 2016–17 W-League season, after being scouted following a pre-season friendly game between a select Western Australian state team and Perth Glory in 2015.^[5]^[2] She started as a squad member, and worked her way on to the bench and finally into the starting team.^[6]

Rigby played a role in Glory's 2016–17 run to the grand final, which they lost to Melbourne City.^[6]^[7]

Following Sam Kerr's move from Perth to Europe on the eve of the 2019–20 season, Rigby took over the role of captain.^[8] She currently holds the longest active streak of any sole captain in the A-League Women, having been captain for five consecutive seasons.^[3]

Rigby became only the third player to reach 100 appearaces for Perth Glory Women on 18 November 2023, starting in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle Jets.^[4]^[9]

Personal life

For the 2020–21 W-League, the national competition was heavily disrupted due to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements caused by COVID-19, as well as the exodus of many top level Australian players to the FA Women's Super League. Rigby was required to manage her commitment to full time employment as a prison officer at a women's prison with her footballing career.^[10]

Beyond football, Rigby engages in charitable work to improve literacy amongst Indigenous Australians, and supports mental health initiatives in the community.^[11]

Rigby is currently in a relationship with AFLW player Angelique Stannett, with whom they announced their engagement in February 2023.^[12]

References

^ "Extra Time: Rigby on the 'respectful fear' Kerr commands". Matildas. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Inspiring Stories: Natasha Rigby". www.sen.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b "An A-Leagues trial every kid needs to read about created a legend who 'shouldn't even be here'". A-Leagues. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Morgan, Gareth (17 November 2023). "Glory Week Episode #4... with Tash Rigby". Perth Glory. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^ "Natasha Rigby". Perth Glory FC. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Locals play their part in Perth Glory's grand final drive". The Women's Game. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^ "Rigby stoked with AFLW's coinciding attention". FTBL. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^ "Rigby confirmed as new Glory skipper". Perth Glory FC. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^ Writers, Aleagues com au. "Perth Glory vs Melbourne Victory, A-League Women, 18th November 2023". A-Leagues. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
^ "W-League captain Natasha Rigby on being forced to face a tough decision". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 February 2021.
^ "Q&A with… Tash Rigby". 19 July 2019.
^ "'The craziest story' that defined dream start to 2023 for Glory skipper who has grown into her armband". A-Leagues. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.