Jodie Ounsley has built an unusual career that brings together elite rugby, deaf sport, television and advocacy. Best known to many viewers as Fury on the BBC’s Gladiators, she first became recognised as a pioneering rugby player after becoming the first deaf female player selected for a senior England rugby side. Her story is not simply about sporting success; it is also about challenging assumptions about what deaf athletes can achieve.
Born in 2001 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, Jodie Ounsley was profoundly deaf from birth. She received a cochlear implant as a young child and worked with The Elizabeth Foundation, which supported her communication and speech development. Sport soon became an important part of her life, with athletics, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and eventually rugby all playing major roles in her development.
Who Is Jodie Ounsley?
Jodie Ounsley is a British athlete, former professional rugby player, television personality, author and advocate for deaf people in sport. Her career has taken her from grassroots rugby to England Sevens and the professional women’s game before moving into television.
Her rise attracted attention because she did not follow a conventional sporting pathway. Before rugby became her main focus, she competed successfully in athletics and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. World Rugby has highlighted how quickly she progressed after first trying rugby as a teenager.
Jodie Ounsley’s Early Life and Deafness
Jodie Ounsley was born profoundly deaf and has spoken openly about the challenges that came with growing up without hearing. Her early access to specialist support helped her develop communication skills and prepare for mainstream education.
Her cochlear implant was an important part of that journey. When she became interested in rugby, there were understandable concerns about protecting the device from impact. Rather than abandoning the sport, she and her family researched protective equipment, including scrum caps, which helped make participation possible.
That decision proved significant. Rugby eventually became the sport through which she reached an international audience and established herself as a trailblazer.
Jodie Ounsley’s Rugby Career
Jodie Ounsley began playing rugby at around 15 after being inspired partly by her younger brother. She joined Sandal Rugby Club and made a remarkable impression almost immediately. According to World Rugby, she scored a try during her first match after coming on as a substitute, an early indication of the speed and natural athleticism that would become central to her game.
Her progress was rapid. She played for Loughborough Lightning before moving to Sale Sharks Women and later Exeter Chiefs Women. She also developed through the England Sevens pathway, making her World Rugby Sevens Series debut and scoring her first World Series try against Ireland.
Jodie Ounsley subsequently became recognised as the first deaf female rugby player to play for a senior England side. Her achievements helped challenge long-standing misconceptions about deaf athletes competing at elite level.
England Sevens and International Recognition
The move into international rugby was one of the defining moments of Jodie Ounsley’s sporting career. She represented England in Sevens and also competed internationally in deaf sport.
Her achievements were recognised beyond rugby. In 2020, she won the Deaf Sports Personality of the Year award, while her wider contribution to deaf sport was later recognised when she became Honorary President of UK Deaf Sport in 2023.
These milestones illustrate why Jodie Ounsley became more than simply another promising rugby player. Her presence at elite level gave young deaf athletes a highly visible example of someone succeeding without allowing hearing loss to define the limits of her ambitions.
Why Did Jodie Ounsley Leave Professional Rugby?
In April 2024, Jodie Ounsley announced that she was stepping away from professional rugby. At the time, she was playing for Exeter Chiefs Women and had also become widely known through Gladiators.
Her rugby career had included injuries, and she agreed to an early release from her Exeter contract to pursue opportunities outside the sport. She made clear that leaving rugby was an emotional decision, while also expressing excitement about what could come next.
The decision marked the end of one chapter rather than the end of her sporting identity. Rugby remained an important influence on her, particularly as she moved further into television and public speaking.
Jodie Ounsley as Fury on Gladiators
For a new generation of viewers, Jodie Ounsley is best known as Fury on the BBC revival of Gladiators. She joined the programme in 2024, bringing the physicality and competitive mindset developed through years of elite sport.
Her rugby background translates naturally to the Gladiators arena. Speed, strength, balance, confidence and the ability to handle physical pressure are all qualities that served her well on the rugby field and continue to shape her television persona.
The role also introduced Jodie Ounsley to a much broader audience. Instead of being known primarily within rugby and deaf-sport circles, she became a recognisable television personality.
Jodie Ounsley Beyond Sport
Jodie Ounsley’s career has expanded well beyond competition. She has worked in broadcasting, including coverage connected with the 2024 Paralympic Games, and has developed a role as a public speaker and advocate for accessibility.
Her work also includes children’s publishing. Pan Macmillan describes her as an advocate for the deaf community and lists her book Keep Smashing It: Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Confident among her projects. Her writing reflects many of the themes that have shaped her own journey: confidence, resilience and refusing to be limited by other people’s expectations.
In 2026, her public profile continued to grow through speaking engagements and further publishing work. Her appearance at Naidex 2026 focused on accessibility, resilience and her experiences growing up profoundly deaf.
Jodie Ounsley’s Impact on Deaf Sport
One of the most important parts of Jodie Ounsley’s story is her visibility. For young deaf people interested in sport, seeing someone who has competed internationally and appeared on mainstream television can make elite sport seem more achievable.
Her work with The Elizabeth Foundation also connects her current public role with the organisation that supported her when she was young. She has repeatedly emphasised the importance of communication, opportunity and refusing to let hearing loss become a barrier to ambition.
Her journey demonstrates that sporting identity does not have to be restricted to one discipline. Athletics, martial arts, rugby and television have each contributed something different to her career.
What Makes Jodie Ounsley’s Story Stand Out?
What makes Jodie Ounsley particularly compelling is the variety of barriers she has overcome without allowing them to become the entire story. She is known for being deaf, but her achievements extend far beyond that description.
From becoming an international rugby player to taking on the Fury role in Gladiators, she has repeatedly entered spaces where she was not expected to fit the traditional image of a participant. Her career has consequently become an example of how determination, preparation and opportunity can combine to change perceptions.
Conclusion
Jodie Ounsley’s career is a story of progression rather than a single achievement. From a profoundly deaf child discovering sport to an international rugby player and eventually one of the recognisable faces of Gladiators, she has continually challenged expectations.
Her move away from professional rugby opened the door to television, publishing, broadcasting and advocacy, giving her an even larger platform. For many people, however, the most important part of Jodie Ounsley’s legacy may be the example she provides to young athletes: limitations do not have to determine ambition, and a different route can still lead to an extraordinary destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jodie Ounsley deaf?
Yes. Jodie Ounsley was born profoundly deaf and uses a cochlear implant. She has become a prominent advocate for greater opportunities and accessibility for deaf athletes.
What sport did Jodie Ounsley play?
She played rugby union professionally and represented England in Sevens. Before rugby, she also competed in athletics and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Who does Jodie Ounsley play in Gladiators?
Jodie Ounsley is known as Fury on the BBC’s Gladiators. Her athletic background helped her make the transition from professional rugby to the television arena.
When did Jodie Ounsley retire from rugby?
She announced her retirement from professional rugby in April 2024 after playing for Exeter Chiefs Women. She chose to concentrate on opportunities outside professional rugby.
What is Jodie Ounsley known for?
Jodie Ounsley is known for her international rugby career, her role as Fury on Gladiators, her work supporting deaf sport and her children’s books and public speaking.
