The videos show what it takes to be a professional female rugby player and how a typical day goes for players Eloise Blackwell, Cristo Tofa and Theresa Fitzpatrick.
“It’s an exciting time for women’s sport in Aotearoa,” said nib CEO Rob Hennin. “Especially in rugby, as 2022 marks the first Super Rugby Aupiki season and we welcome the Women’s Rugby World Cup later this year. To be able to hear that players like Eloise now have the financial backing to focus on professional sport full-time is what real progress looks like. However, we know that not every player is afforded this same opportunity. This is why we also invested in initiatives to support the wellbeing of the team, so they can focus on playing at their best and alleviate some of those external pressures as they juggle full-time work and family life.”
Some of the initiatives include nutritional classes with a dietitian and an ice bath recovery workshop, providing expert advice on how to best take care of their mind and body while playing at an elite level. This week, each player will also receive a pair of high-performance rugby boots to help them perform at their best on game day.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved playing rugby and I didn’t think it would ever be my career,” said Blackwell, the team’s vice captain. “I used to juggle full-time teaching with my passion, but here I am today, proudly calling rugby my profession. I still pinch myself and feel very humbled to be playing professionally, and I hope these ‘A Day in the Life’ videos show other young girls to keep dreaming and that it’s possible for females to have a future in the sport.”
