Tui gifts winners medal to young fan
The Black Ferns have been on the rollercoaster of their lives in a historic Rugby World Cup and finished with the euphoria of a sixth title before a world record crowd for the women’s game at Eden Park.
An outcome where they would beat the northern powerhouses, France then England, to lift the trophy they call ‘‘Nancy’’ seemed improbable only five months ago.
However, they beat both in similarly dramatic conclusions and did so with heart, some good fortune, determination, attacking flair, oodles of joy and fun which captured the public’s imagination, and a clinical efficiency of world champions in big moments.
The campaign began amid the turbulent fallout from last year’s troubled northern tour and the team’s damning culture review.
It ended with a magical night in Auckland on Saturday, completing a remarkable comeback in a dramatic final against world No 1 England, whose record winning streak ended at 30 after more than three years of dominance in which they have accelerated the game’s tentative steps into professionalism.
It wasn’t meant to be for England, despite a heroic effort with a player less after Lydia Thompson’s crucial red card in the 18th minute for rushing late into a tackle, clashing heads with Kiwi superstar Portia Woodman, who
Black Ferns star Ruby Tui has gifted her World Cup medal to a young fan who has recently recovered from leukaemia.
In an incredible gesture reminiscent of Sonny Bill Williams gifting his 2015 World Cup final medal to a young English fan, ESPN assistant editor Brittany Mitchell reports Tui was spotted yesterday morning without her medal after gifting it to a fan named Lucia, who she had met earlier last week at a fan engagement event.
Lucia had reportedly followed the Black Ferns throughout the World Cup and told Tui her dream was to become a Black Fern. Lucia’s father had told Tui of his daughter’s recent cancer battle.
‘‘The moment stuck with the
was knocked out.
This was New Zealand’s moment – it was written in the stars, said gracious England coach Simon Middleton – in iconic coaching mentor Wayne Smith’s last occasion on the game’s big stage and 42,579 filled Eden Park to create an incredible atmosphere.
Smith said the Black Ferns’ 34-31 victory against England was the most phenomenal moment of his career.
The 65-year-old reluctantly took the job in April after Glenn Moore’s resignation and joining 30-year-old, so as she celebrated her side’s historic 34-31 victory over England on the field, she spotted the young fan in the crowd and placed her World Cup winners medal around her neck,’’ Mitchell wrote on ESPN. ‘‘It was a moment not captured by the many cameras around the stadium, but a story relayed to two journalists, who happened across Tui without the medal early on Sunday morning. The moving tale was later confirmed by the Black Ferns.’’
Tui was seen without her winner’s medal in a post-match
the staff were some other familiar faces – fellow former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry and scrum guru Mike Cron – with assistants Wes Clarke and Whitney Hansen and sevens mastermind Allan Bunting.
That coaching team inspired the Black Ferns to glory in a tournament that should be a watershed moment for women’s rugby, although what’s next for their coaches isn’t yet clear – except for Smith and Henry, who have indicated they’re retiring.
The first women’s World Cup tweet she published, and she was also without a medal around her neck during yesterday’s parade.
Meanwhile, Portia Woodman doesn’t remember the Black Ferns’ win in the final, but was able to join her team-mates for their celebration in downtown Auckland yesterday afternoon.
The tournament’s leading tryscorer was forced out of the game at Eden Park on Saturday night after England winger Lydia Thompson collided with her and made head-on-head contact, which resulted in her being shown a red card.
She was able to take to the stage to collect her winner’s medal and was involved in the celebrations after the Black Ferns’ 34-31 win.
held in New Zealand – 31 years after its first tournament in Wales in 1991 – will be remembered for the passionate, unprecedented support the Black Ferns have revelled in, smiling, laughing, dancing and enjoying the moment with record crowds in Auckland and Whangā rei.
Eden Park was rocking on the opening night against Australia and for their semifinal with France, with a joyous, more diverse crowd that probably wouldn’t be seen in the typical audience for a live men’s rugby match.
Black Ferns such as Stacey Fluhler, Theresa Fitzpatrick and Ruahei Demant, amongst many others, have become household names alongside the stars like Woodman, Ruby Tui and retiring halfback Kendra Cocksedge, whose stellar career finished with a third World Cup title.
The exhilarating decider with England was, fittingly, the tournament’s greatest match with the best and biggest atmosphere to cheer the Black Ferns to victory to complete their turnaround from the lows of last November in Europe.
This World Cup has demonstrated what is possible when players are backed to play fulltime.
The Black Ferns, England and France are miles ahead of the rest at this point and the tournament will almost certainly look different when England host the next edition in 2025.