Matildas prospect Charlie Rule says she is surprised by the speed of her move to England but is determined to use it to push for a regular spot in the national side.
The young defender completed a move to Women’s Super League side Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday after a stunning campaign for A-League Women’s premiers Sydney FC.
Rule, 20, will join teammates Mackenzie Hawkesby and Madison Haley at Brighton after the struggling club took a keen eye to members of the Australian powerhouse heading into the transfer window.
A right-back who can also play through the middle of the pitch and provides a strong aerial threat in the box, Rule said the move would help her move up the Matildas pecking order as she eyes a spot at the Paris Olympics next year.
“Definitely, that’s the dream. Paris 2024, I can maybe try and push for that, but it’s obviously such a good squad and it will be really hard,” Rule said.
“I think that’s the great thing about moving to England – I’ll be able to play in the biggest league in the world and hopefully stand up to some of the biggest players, so if I can do that I think I can get a few more opportunities with the Matildas.”
She said being able to focus on football full-time after balancing her A-League Women’s career with work and study would be hugely beneficial to her game.
“Being surrounded by the best players in the world, having to come up against them. I’m going to have to grow as a player, and I think that’s where I’ll be best able to improve,” she said.
“Being able to play full-time, you’ve got all the facilities you need available … I can put so much more energy into it.”
Rule will be watching on from afar as the Matildas continue with their World Cup campaign, but said she was keen to pick the brain of veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who joined Brighton from PSG in January.
“(Williams) has got so much experience, she’ll be great to look up to and I think she’ll be able to help us a lot as young ones.
“Having that experience at the World Cup, it will be great to speak to her about that … she’s one of the greats of Australian football, it would be an honour to play with her.”
Rule is good friends with Hawkesby, a 23-year-old midfielder who has also been on the fringes of the Matildas set-up, and said the pair was keen to continue surfing together on the UK south coast.
“It’s so good to find a club on the water … I feel like it’s kind of the Bondi of England, it’ll feel a bit like home. Me and Macca both surf, so maybe we’ll try and look for a couple waves,” she said.
