Uplifting year

The past few days have been a whirlwind for Black Ferns lock Chelsea Bremner, full of scenes that normally only feature in the sweetest dreams.

A Rugby World Cup win on Saturday, celebrations with friends and family afterwards, and then a flight back to Christchurch with ‘Nancy’ – the affectionate name the Black Ferns have given to the Rugby World Cup trophy – that featured an invitation into the cockpit with the other South Island-based players.

The silverware is now in the safe hands of retiring halfback Kendra Cocksedge, but in typical Black Ferns fashion it will be put to good use – they are taking it to Conductive Education Canterbury (CEC) today to show to the children with disabilities they met before the Laurie O’Reilly test in August.

Bremner, 27, remains on a high and is still reliving the last moments of the final when Joanah Ngan-Woo stole an English lineout to win the Rugby World Cup.

‘‘We knew that our only chance was to try and stop it before they could get a roll on,’’ Bremner told Stuff yesterday. ‘‘So, there was definitely the chat about getting up in the lineout.

‘‘Joanah did an unreal job of getting up and stealing that ball . . . it was pretty cool.’’

Bremner was a key part of the Black Ferns’ campaign and will now be part of a stacked Chiefs Manawa squad in Super Rugby Aupiki next year, with the Hamilton-based side announcing her recruitment from Matutū yesterday.

Personal reasons played a part the move – Bremner’s partner is Aucklandbased Moana Pasifika prop Joe Apikotoa – and the move north will be another significant life change for Bremner, who will play against sister Alana in next year’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

She took a year of unpaid leave from teaching at Hornby High School to prepare and play in the Rugby World Cup, but professionalism means those days could be over.

‘‘Our [Black Ferns] contracts are going to be renewing at the end of [Super Rugby] Aupiki,’’ she said. ‘‘So, that means that I’ll be able to focus on rugby fulltime until the first half of the year, and then hopefully I’ll be able to continue with my rugby fulltime. But, potentially if we do have a bit of time I’ll maybe do some relieving and get back in the classroom.’’

Time might be hard to find. Bremner looms as an important figure in the Black Ferns through to the Rugby World Cup in 2025 and beyond, with her high work rate complemented by excellent aerial skills.

She also emphasised how the introduction of full-time contracts earlier this year was a bit like that Ngan-Woo lineout steal – a moment that rescued the Black Ferns’ Rugby World Cup chances.

‘‘For us one of the main differences was just that recovery, and being able to give everything to every session,’’ Bremner said.

‘‘Before we were fulltime, we would wake up really early, train and then go to work and then go to training after work.

‘‘Being able to sleep and wake up at the normal time and be able to have that proper nutrition and have the evenings to ourselves . . . played a massive part in our overall wellbeing.

‘‘Just having more time to focus on