It pays to be a Black Fern
It’s not about the money for 18-year-old Black Fern Grace Brooker, but it certainly helps. Fresh out of high school, the Canterbury rugby representative has landed a contract with the world champion Black Ferns – a dream come true for the farm girl from Oxford.
When she got the news Brooker was ‘‘over the moon’’, her parents Mel and Dave cried with joy, her grandparents were proud of their New Zealand Rugby employee and her mates plain jealous of her anticipated bank balance.
‘‘I have been wanting to be a rugby player my whole life so it was literally that dream-come-true moment. It was so surreal, it still is very surreal, I can’t believe it really. I told my parents straight away and they started crying. It means so much to us.’’
There were plenty of emotions yesterday afternoon when the 28 contracted players were announced. The players will be paid between $12,000 and $20,000, with about half a dozen players on the higher amount.
‘‘Money has never been the predominant thing – it’s been more about the passion and everything – but it definitely helps. My friends are a bit jealous because I don’t actually have a student loan.
‘‘It tops the cake. ‘‘Hopefully I just get that opportunity to put on the black jersey to represent my country. I just can’t even comprehend how happy that will make me feel.’’
Brooker turns 19 in June and has never left New Zealand. A test match against the Wallaroos in Sydney and a match against the USA in Chicago is enough to motivate her to make the cut when coach Glenn Moore picks his squad.
Brooker is taking nothing for granted, though, and still doesn’t feel like she measures up to her more established Black Ferns team-mates.
‘‘Pretty much the whole team are my idols, so I still don’t really see myself on a par with them, but they make me feel so welcome and show me the expectations of where I need to be at.’’
The young winger hasn’t come to terms with being a role model for the younger generation of young female rugby players; after all, she grew up dreaming of wearing another black jersey – an All Blacks one.
‘‘I didn’t know too much about ❚ Guaranteed retainer for one year
❚ Assembly fees if selected for Black Ferns training camps and fixtures (about 50 days/year in total)
❚ Medical and life insurance, an opportunity to join the Player Savings Scheme and KiwiSaver
❚ Technical, tactical, biomechanical, strength and conditioning programming, nutritional advice, medical and sports psychological support
❚ 10-14 hours per week commitment required for rugby training. However, priority will be given to ensuring players can maintain their work and study while on the programme
❚ Personal development to assist in areas of career/education and work, finance and asset protection, character development, mental wellness and other professional rugby obligations and expectations ❚ A personal development manager will be allocated specifically to support the Black Ferns
❚ Parental policy for players returning to the programme from maternity leave
❚ Remuneration for the players paid out of the player payment pool agreed on between NZR and the NZRPA under the existing Collective Employment Agreement (CEA) the Black Ferns when I was real little but I always wanted to be an All Black. I started [playing] when I was four and pretty much as soon as I put those boots on I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life sort of thing. Every game I play my passion grows.’’
Women earning a salary to play 15s rugby is now a reality in New Zealand, at least for 28 players.
A further 20 will be identified to make up a wider training squad. The non-contracted players will be part of a high-performance training programme designed to identify and develop the best female rugby talent.
The contracted Black Ferns players will have to assemble for 50 days this year, as part of their national duty, on top of training within the high performance men’s provincial programmes.
‘‘Money has never been the predominant thing – it’s been more about the passion and everything – but it definitely helps.’’
Grace Brooker
The Black Ferns contracts:
Chelsea Alley, Ariana Bayler, Grace Brooker, Kendra Cocksedge, Krysten Cottrell, Ruahei Demant, Dhys Faleafaga, Kilistina Moata’ane, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Kristina Sue, Renee Wickliffe, Selica Winiata, Eloise Blackwell, Les Elder (nee Ketu), Fiao’o Faamausili, Harono Iringa, Aldora Itunu, Linda Itunu, Pip Love, Charmaine McMenamin, Toka Natua, Joanah Ngan Woo, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Aleisha Nelson, Marcelle Parkes, Leilani Perese, Aroha Savage, Charmaine Smith.
Contracted Black Ferns: