'Winning a World Cup on home turf in a final at Eden Park - that'd be a pretty awesome way to finish my career'
It should have come as a massive relief to everyone across the country when New Zealand Rugby confirmed that the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) would kick off in mid-August, despite the many interruptions the year had suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While NZR had been working furiously behind the scenes to give the premier women’s competition the go-ahead, there was some trepidation that the tournament might fall victim to the global shutdown.
Already the women’s game had been hit hard. The Black Ferns were scheduled to play eight tests in 2020 – the most they’d ever had in a non-World Cup calendar year – but, like the All Blacks, international fixtures have become exceptionally difficult to coordinate. While there will hopefully still be some trans-Tasman battles scheduled for later in the year, we won’t see the massive array of fixtures that had previously been arranged – which is a hit to the game in general, but even more so when you consider that New Zealand are hosting the 2021 World Cup.
Thankfully, confirmation that the FPC would go ahead almost as scheduled (kicking off a week earlier than last year’s competition but with a slightly different format) came in the latter stages of May, which gives the country’s top female players something to look forward to this year.
Finally having some rugby locked in for 2020 is especially important to Black Ferns and Canterbury halfback Kendra Cocksedge, given it could well be her final year wearing the red and black stripes.
“As athletes, it’s nice to have those confirmed dates and have something to look forward to that the rest of the country and supporters can get behind,” Cocksedge told RugbyPass shortly after the Farah Palmer Cup was announced for 2020.
“The Farah Palmer Cup is huge for us and it needed to be there and I think the quality of it over the last three or four years has just shot through the roof. More supporters are tuning in and the game has changed, it’s higher quality footy – good expansive play, good catch-pass and it’s just growing and it’s really cool to be a part of that and play in it.”
Cocksedge was originally planning on hanging up the boots after the 2017 World Cup but eventually decided that if she were still fit enough to play, why would she give up the game she loves? For she isn’t just heavily involved on the field – she also works as NZR’s women’s rugby development manager for the Crusaders region.
The women’s sport became semi-professional in New Zealand in 2018 when a small group of Black Ferns were given contracts that would effectively allow them to focus on playing rugby full-time. For Cocksedge, however, there was never much thought given to handing in her resignation with New Zealand Rugby.
“I’ve done it all my life I guess so I really enjoy working and training,” she said. “I’ve got a really good team and it’s probably what keeps me motivated as well as just being lucky enough to work in the game and be in a job that I’m so passionate about.
“Honestly, I’m just so passionate about the game. People think I’m absolutely crazy because I work in it and I play in it, it’s every day for me. When I first got my job at New Zealand Rugby, they were like, ‘Oh, it might be quite tough if you’re playing in working in it,’ but I just love it. That’s what it comes down to. I’d have no idea what I’d do if there was no rugby.
“Realistically, I know I’m coming to the end of my playing career now so my off-field and my work is hugely important to me – I’ve got some goals I want to achieve within my job as well. It’s something that I’ll start focusing on, probably after the World Cup.”
It’s been an incredible playing career to date for Cocksedge, who first represented both Canterbury and New Zealand in 2007 when she was just 19-years-old. On the international scene, the nuggety halfback won two World Cups in 2010 and 2017 and was presented the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year award in 2018, which is bestowed to New Zealand’s top performing player – man or woman. Even after taking all those achievements into consideration, it could well be Cocksedge’s time with Canterbury that she looks back on most fondly.
Despite fears that the women's game may have been overlooked, @ChelseaAlley13 is confident that we'll see some rugby on the calendar for 2020.
The 24-cap @BlackFerns midfielder spoke with @TomVinicombe about the challenges unique to the women's game.https://t.co/JjXyfaB2A7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 20, 2020
Since the early days of women’s provincial rugby, Auckland have been the powerhouse of the nation, securing 15 of the first 16 national competitions. Auckland took home the title every year in Cocksedge’s first eight seasons with Canterbury. It’s fair to say, the northerners were viewed with a bit of an aura of invincibility, not dissimilar to New Zealand’s All Blacks.
In 2016, Counties Manukau did the unthinkable and finally usurped Auckland, besting them in the final 41-22. That gave hope to the rest of New Zealand’s provinces; Auckland were beatable.
“Auckland are a great side, full of Black Ferns and they’ve been well-deserving of the number of times they’ve won the competition but when Counties upset them and took it off them that year, I think that made other teams realise that it can happen,” Cocksedge said.
“I think that’s probably what happened for us, it gave us a little bit of light. Yeah, Auckland still have Black Ferns – but let’s not put them on a pedestal and, as a team, let’s just focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.
“I mean, it took some time but we got there. I honestly believe with Counties doing it, it just gave other teams – and even especially us – a little bit of hope that Auckland are actually beatable.
One year later, Canterbury had fought their way into a final against the reigning champions and had to travel to Pukekohe to try to win a maiden title against Counties. It was a tough slog, but a try to loose forward Rebecca Todd with barely two minutes to spare gave Canterbury the points they needed to secure a 13-7 victory.
After a decade of trying, Cocksedge finally had her first provincial title – and her Canterbury side backed that performance up in 2018 and 2019 with two more championships to their name.
“For me as an individual, you have your little wee accolades and little things you kind of want to achieve in your career and to finally tick that Farah Palmer Cup championship off was pretty special,” Cocksedge said.
“I got heaps of messages from past players, ones that I played with early on in my career, and they were absolutely stoked for us but just were like, ‘Why couldn’t we do it when we were playing?’ – but they’re still proud of how we’ve gone over the last three years and the Canterbury Rugby Union are really supportive and have been awesome in that space.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCaBT9tgajn/
“The girls work hard, they train hard, they do their homework – and over the last three years we’ve seen the results.”
Still, despite the years that went into Canterbury finally winning their first FPC title, nothing really compares to competing on a global scale and winning a World Cup.
“That feeling is something that you obviously can’t imagine. Words can’t really explain how awesome it is to win a World Cup and to have won two is a pretty unreal feeling and it’s almost like a weight’s lifted off your shoulders.
“All that hard work, that blood, sweat and tears that goes into wanting to make the Black Ferns and then playing for them… it’s indescribable.”
And now Cocksedge has one final chance to make an impact on the world scene – in front of a home crowd too, when New Zealand hosts the World Cup late next year.
“That’s what made me come back to continue to play, the fact that there’s a World Cup on home soil,” she said. “What a place to host it. We had the men’s World Cup here in 2011 and the whole country got in behind it, and we hope that happens for the women’s World Cup as well.
“I couldn’t think of a better way, to be honest, to end my career. Winning a World Cup on home turf in a final at Eden Park – that’d be a pretty awesome way to finish my career. It’s been pretty unreal, and I’ve achieved a lot of things I never, ever expected to.
“It’s something you never think about, the awards that come with it. It’s a team game and you always put the team first but those little things that come with it are still pretty special.”
Ian Foster has revealed the eligibility criteria for NZ's upcoming North v South game, but will the players be happy?@TomVinicombe surveyed a number of them prior to the announcement. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #AllBlacks #NorthvSouthhttps://t.co/EsNtDAFVpi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 27, 2020
Cocksedge was awarded both the New Zealand and World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year awards in 2015, then came the big one three years later.
When she won the Kelvin R Tremain award in 2018, it was the first time that a woman had received the coveted prize. It put the 31-year-old halfback in the record books alongside the likes of All Blacks legends Zinzan Brooke, Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter – not bad company.
Perhaps breaking the mould and being the first woman to receive the award will go down in the annals as Cocksedge’s greatest ever accomplishment. It’s an incredible achievement in of itself – but she is also well aware of what it means for New Zealand’s female rugby players as well as women in sport in general.
“What was huge for me was putting women’s rugby out there and putting us on a pedestal where we deserve to be,” Cocksedge said.
“It’s a great game and I just hope that young ones coming through and parents of the young girls coming through have seen that and said, ‘Oh my goodness.’ We’re breaking glass ceilings and showing that women can do anything.
“Whether it’s in rugby or out of rugby, it’s hopefully giving some young females something to aspire to and showing that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. I just hope it gives some young females some confidence, even just within rugby.”
With greater prominence on the park and on the TV, there will no doubt be a slew of young rugby players – both boys and girls – who see and are inspired by Cocksedge and her fellow Black Ferns.
Next year’s World Cup will be just one more chance for the women of New Zealand rugby to dazzle and impress on the highest stage – but even before 2021, Cocksedge and her Canterbury side have a Farah Palmer Cup title to defend.
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