'It's a bit weird': Black Ferns star reacts to NZ's best 'honour'
Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant said it feels “a bit weird” to have been crowned New Zealand’s best rugby player at the 2022 ASB Rugby Awards on Thursday.
Out of all the stars at the prestigious annual awards, the World Cup winning flyhalf was able to shine brightest as she took home three individual honours following a career-best campaign.
The star pivot, who was the Player of the Match in Octobers World Cup final at Eden Park, was named the Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year and Black Ferns Player of the Year.
But Demant well and truly stole the show as she was awarded the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year, which recognises the best player in New Zealand.
Speaking with Brendan Telfer on The Platform, Demant described how much of an “honour” it was for her to receive the prestigious accolade.
“It’s a bit weird, I can’t think of a better word to describe it,” Demant said.
“It’s just strange because we play these team sports and we don’t do it to receive any individual accolades because you’re always working together with the team.
“To be recognised and receive such a prestigious award, not only that but also Maori Player of the Year is a huge honour for me and my whanau (family).”
The Black Ferns were able to inspire New Zealanders like never before during their incredible World Cup run which ended with a thrilling win over World No. 1 England at Eden Park.
Star players including Ruby Tui, Sarah Hirini and Stacey Fluhler showcased their skill and passion on the field of play, and were able to connect with their fans in a truly ground-breaking manner off it as well.
As the tournament went on, and the highly anticipated semi-final matchups neared, the support for the team continued to grow like never before.
A sold-out Eden Park in the semi-final between the Black Ferns and France was incredible – truly fascinating scenes that reminded all rugby fans of the All Blacks’ triumph over Les Bleus 11 years earlier.
But the final at New Zealand’s home of rugby transcended what was once believed to be possible, as more than 42,000 fans packed the stands – and made their voice heard as well.
The stunning atmosphere throughout the World Cup was one thing, but the way the Black Ferns have been able to inspire Aotearoa – even now – can’t be ignored.
As Demant said, she “wrongly thought” the support for New Zealand’s women’s team would’ve gone “away” after the final.
“The attention that our team especially received over the World Cup, I wrongly thought that that would probably go away once the World Cup finished and it hasn’t which is again a really privileged position for many of us in our team to be in,” she added.
“Not only as players but (as) real ambassadors for the game and role models for not just young girls but young boys in our community.
“We’re very privileged.”
The Black Ferns dared to dream ahead of the World Cup, as they looked to bounce back from a disastrous end-of-season tour less than a year before it.
But playing on home soil, the team refused to give up – and the passion, confidence and bravery was infectious.
The biggest takeaway from the tournament that was though is how ground-breaking it was for women’s rugby, as young girls watched their heroes take the field at the famous Eden Park.
“I think one of the unique characteristics that women’s rugby has as opposed to men’s rugby is firstly, there’s a much smaller number of females that play rugby in New Zealand,” she added.
“Because of that, especially when it comes to women’s rugby, there’s a massive drop off after school girls rugby.
“It’s very common for players, regardless of their age or experience levels, to come to your club training and be training alongside Black Ferns.
“That passion for the grassroots level of rugby, that willingness to give back to your community, to go out into your communities, into the schools, into the clubs who may be struggling… you often have players giving back in other ways that stay involved with the game long after they’ve finished playing.
“It’s been an example that’s been set by many players who have gone before us even now, and is the example that is continued to be set and followed by many of the players who are involved.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments