Te Ohaere-fox has lots on her plate

Former Black Fern Stephanie Te Ohaere-fox stops short of saying she wants to play a World Cup at home.

Part of the wider squad of the 2017 world champion Black Ferns, she retired from the national side because she felt she had accomplished all she needed in the black jersey.

A couple of years on and New Zealand Rugby secured the World Cup on home soil, which had her slightly doubting that decision.

But life goes on and the qualified builder has made a comfortable life for herself outside international rugby.

Te Ohaere-fox now has a three-year-old boy to look after and she says that’s more than enough to have on her plate.

‘‘It’s pretty tough juggling a few things.

‘‘The times I am at home I just make sure I am all committed to

entertaining my son and spending the time with my wife, then while at work I like to get into that, then it’s in to training.

‘‘We make it work, but it’s tough.’’

The Canterbury captain and hooker says her side is taking nothing for granted this season, despite having won the last two Farah Palmer Cup titles and having not been challenged so far this season.

Coming fresh off a bye this week, the Cantabrians will aim to defend the JJ Stewart Trophy at Rugby Park, Christchurch, against Manawatu¯ .

‘‘With the competition being so competitive in the last few years, with the Farah Palmer Cup you can’t be complacent, so we are just taking each game as it comes. We are definitely not taking them lightly.’’

And nor should they. Manawatu¯ have dangerous Black Fern speedster Selicia Winiata in their backline.

Te Ohaere-fox, 33, has been a part of the Canterbury team for over five years and says the FPC is growing stronger. When she started there were two or three teams who you could predict to make the finals, now it’s open slather, she says.

‘‘It is more than just the top three, now it is open. The Back Ferns just aren’t in the North Island now, they are all over the country.’’

Canterbury are going to be hard to beat with a fully fit roster featuring Black Fern halfback Kendra Cocksedge this weekend.

Head coach Kieran Kite has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Auckland 45-12 at Eden Park on September 8.

At lock, Estelle Uren joins Chelsea Bremner in the starting side and Cindy Nelles provides cover in the reserves. Greer O’rourke and Angie Sisifa also move to the bench for this game, with Lucy Jenkins and Georgia Ponsonby named as the starting 7 and 8 combination.

A key clash this weekend will be Wellington against an Auckland side which is rebuilding after losing many of its senior players this season to retirement and shifts to other teams, namely newcomers Northland.

Auckland and Wellington sit third and fourth on the table with the same points.

A win for either side will help their cause to securing a finals spot in what is a short FPC season.