Young Black Ferns set sights on World Cup glory

Black Ferns rugby trio Ayesha Leti-l'iga, Joanah Ngan Woo and Amanda Rasch all have at least three things in common. 

They each star for the Wellington Pride women's team, play their club rugby for Oriental Rongotai and are hoping to be part of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil. 

But they all have different motivations as they look to grasp that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Ayesha Leti-l'iga: Honouring those who watch over her 

Try-scoring sensation Ayesha Leti-l'iga used to come home from rugby with her pockets full of money. 

Her grandfather would give her $10 for every try she scored. 

But he was soon having second thoughts as Ayesha crossed the line, time after time. 

“I scored seven tries in one game and he said, ‘You’re going to make me broke’,” she laughs. 

He also had a habit of beeping his car horn after each of Ayesha’s tries, leaving no doubt about who had just scored. Following his passing in 2019, her tries are no longer greeted by the cash or beeping. 

But ‘Papa’ is still with her on the field. His name is written on the strapping around her wrist and he is joined there by another dearly departed loved one. 

Mum Asolupe passed away in 2009, when Ayesha was just nine. With the spirit of both driving her on, the winger has been unstoppable on the club rugby scene.

Her remarkable try tally for ‘Ories’ now stands at over 150. Her scoring rate is around three tries per game and it’s common for her to score five or more in one match. 

That has caught the attention of the national selectors and she has been capped nine times for the Black Ferns, scoring twice.

“My grandad always told me nothing is ever handed to you, you have to work for it.  

“After all of my grandparents’ sacrifices, this is me trying to pay them back.”  

Joanah Ngan Woo: Accepting the role model mantle  

There’s only one thing on the mind of Joanah Ngan Woo when she laces up her rugby boots these days. 

“I’m always thinking about the World Cup,” she says. 

The ball-carrying lock very nearly achieved her World Cup dream four years ago, when the pinnacle of women’s rugby was held in Ireland. 

“I was on stand-by and it looked like I would be called-up at one point because we had some injuries,” she explains. “The manager sent me an email asking if I was ready to come and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’.  

“I didn’t end up going which was probably for the best because I don’t think I was ready.” She is most definitely ready this time. 

The 24-year-old is still coming to terms with the high regard in which she is now held. “Sometimes I don’t see myself right up there as a role model,” she admits. 

“But then I heard one of the new girls came into the team at Ories and was like, ‘Is that Joanah? She’s a Black Fern, I’m so scared to meet her’. 

Amanda Rasch: Dreaming of being Ma’a  

When Amanda Rasch first picked up a rugby ball, she wanted to be just like Ma’a Nonu. The All Black great is one of several prominent players to have come through the Ories ranks. 

With female role models in short supply at the time, Amanda turned to the likes of Nonu and the Savea brothers, Julian and Ardie, who also both starred for the club.  

“I didn’t watch much of the women’s games when I was growing up and it was more guys like Ma’a that I looked up to, he was my favourite player,” she admits. 

Deadly accurate from the kicking tee, the first-five has regularly wrapped up huge points totals during games for the Wellington Pride and Ories. 

Amanda, 21, is yet to be capped for the Black Ferns but is very much in the frame as the World Cup countdown continues.  

Her dreams of being like Ma’a have now changed to slotting a World Cup-winning kick between the posts.  

“I know a lot of the girls were a bit gutted about it being postponed but it didn’t really affect me,” she says. 

“I think it just gives us more time to prepare and something to look forward to. I feel really blessed to be where I am right now and I’m reminding myself to just enjoy it.” 

Being prepared  

The Women’s Rugby World Cup has never been held in New Zealand. The players who make the squad will create history when they run out at Eden Park to take on Australia in the opening match next October.  

But they will only be able to do so if fit and injury-free. Despite her tender years, Amanda knows how challenging it can be to overcome serious injury. 

She has already had to come back from two shoulder reconstructions. 

“Recovering from injury is so taxing, more mentally than physically. In hindsight, I’m now a lot more resilient and I’ve learned a lot from going through those experiences,” she says.  

“I always make sure I prepare properly, it’s just a given now. I can’t afford not to, otherwise I know I’ll get injured. That’s just the reality of it.” 

She is therefore a passionate advocate of RugbySmart, a world-leading programme run by New Zealand Rugby with support from ACC.  

Its aim is to make sure players are ready before lacing up their boots. That means being physically fit, properly managing injuries and understanding correct playing techniques.  

ACC have increased our investment in RugbySmart to $9.3 million over the next five years. More information on the programme is available on the RugbySmart website.