The incredible RWC moment that left aspiring Black Fern 'in shock'
While the Black Ferns were able to unite and inspire a nation throughout their incredible World Cup run, the tournament’s greatest moment may have come after the champions were crowned.
More than 42,000 rugby fans packed the stands at New Zealand’s home of rugby, Eden Park, for Saturday’s momentous World Cup final between the Black Ferns and England.
The two traditional rugby rivals had met twice 12-months earlier during the Black Ferns’ Northern Tour to England and France – with the Red Roses winning both Tests by emphatic margins.
But under the guidance of super coach Wayne Smith, the Black Ferns were able to complete their incredible redemption arc, and defend their World Cup title on home soil.
Stars including Ruby Tui, Stacey Fluhler and Kendra Cocksedge were among a powerful group of New Zealand women who had inspired the next generation to dream big.
But as reported by ESPN Assistant Editor Brittany Mitchell, utility back Tui had met a young girl earlier in the week who dreamt of becoming “a Black Fern.”
Tui was told soon after that the little girl, Lucia, had recently recovered from Leukemia.
As the Black Ferns star celebrated her teams World Cup victory at Eden Park, Tui reportedly saw Lucia in the crowd, and gave her World Cup medal to the young fan.
“After the game, I hung around waiting for her,” Lucia told Newshub.
“She gave me a hug and took off the medal and gave me the medal.
“I was in shock and I was crying.”
The Black Ferns etched their names in New Zealand sporting folklore with their epic run at the World Cup, which has already created a legacy which will be felt for generations.
After playing two consecutive World Cup matches at a sold-out Eden Park, the Black Ferns have well and truly changed the game.
Their sixth World Cup title. ??????
Remarkable.#RWC2021 #BlackFerns pic.twitter.com/tcexyzh8hT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2022
Speaking after the final, New Zealand co-captain Ruahei Demant said the team wanted to “inspire the nation” throughout the tournament – which is exactly what they did.
“The level of support that we’ve received from our country has been really overwhelming and as players none of us really expected this,” Demant said.
“It’s still quiet surreal to turn up to Eden Park, we’ve been here three times now, and it’s been sold-out two times.
“I never ever would’ve thought when they announced that the Rugby World Cup was here in New Zealand that we would get this level of engagement because we’re not really that type of country.
“As a team we spoke about, part of our vision was wanting to inspire the nation and I think that’s what we’ve done and it’s still quite funny saying that because we’ve achieved it and it’s quite a hard thing to do.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
1 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
45 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
7 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
45 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
45 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to comments