The 'heavy responsibility' that kept Black Ferns star Ruby Tui in New Zealand
Nearly six months after the Black Ferns’ epic Rugby World Cup victory on home soil, in which Tui was a prominent figure on and off the field, the 31-year-old has re-signed for two more seasons through to 2024, albeit starting with a six-month “sabbatical”.
When Tui makes her playing comeback remains unclear, but her decision to stick with the Black Ferns is nonetheless significant for her and NZ Rugby as they try to develop women’s rugby and capitalise on last year’s momentous World Cup.
The women’s game is in a transformative phase while it increases its professionalism and public interest reached unprecedented highs throughout the tournament.
Tui told Sky Sport’s The Breakdown she had multiple offers from overseas, including a lucrative deal to switch codes to join the NRLW, but chose to stay namely because she wanted to grow the game in New Zealand.
That was with assurances from NZ Rugby of greater support for the women’s game, as well as the appointment of her long-time coach in sevens, Allan Bunting, who has taken on the Black Ferns job through to the next World Cup in England in 2025.
“It took me ages to sit there and think about what makes me happy. My mental health, where will I be happy?” Tui said.
“Me and NZR were going back and forth for a long time, actually. In the end, thank goodness, we came to a space we could agree on. They're willing to support long-serving members.”
Tui said she could have gone overseas – her value would have been at an all-time high after the World Cup – but she felt a “heavy responsibility” to help the next generation.
“I wouldn't have stayed unless I sat down with NZR and we had the conversation,” Tui said.
“Another huge factor for me was hiring Allan Bunting.
“I can tell you right now, he would have had some non-negotiables that other coaches wouldn’t have had.
“NZR would have had to pull a few strings and move budgets to make that happen.
“What that looks like is an increased Super Rugby competition and better resourcing of our hubs and aligning the timetable and the calendar with the rest of the world.
“You can’t pay Black Ferns more and not have any tests.”
Bunting said they were pleased Tui was coming back, with details of her sabbatical to be confirmed soon.
“What she brings on and off the field is something very special and I know that it will be welcomed when she returns from her sabbatical,” he said in a statement.
Tui said her new contract means she could stay in New Zealand and have a viable financial future, amid interest from the UK, Japan, China and the NRLW.
Top Black Ferns last year were reportedly earning about $130,000, with base retainers at $35,000 with benefits and appearance fees added, and NZ Rugby has committed to improving contracts and staging more tests.
The Black Ferns’ first matches this season will be in the Pacific Four Series in June and July, starting against Australia in Brisbane before two tests against Canada and the United States in Ottawa, Canada. They will also host Australia in the second O’Reilly Cup test in September.
Tui’s potential return could be for tests in October against Wales, France and England which are due to be held across New Zealand in the new WXV competition.
Bunting and Tui have been vocal in advocating for an improved Super Rugby Aupiki. It could be challenged by other competitions, such as the NRLW, offering huge contracts to players who want to make a living from sport.
Both want New Zealand’s domestic competition to be more sustainable than its early editions, which were semi-professional and had players juggling rugby with their other careers, and NZ Rugby is reviewing how to expand it for next year and beyond.
As well as Tui, NZ Rugby also announced on Sunday that Chiefs Manawa prop Kate Henwood and Hurricanes Poua halfback Iritana Hohaia had signed full-time contracts for the first time.
Tui said Henwood was a great example for players hoping to make the Black Ferns from Aupiki.
”Kate was unknown in the rugby world. She was one of the outstanding props of the competition,” she said on The Breakdown.
”If you play Super, it’s a realistic option, you can get picked up from nowhere and live your dream, travel the world, stay in rugby, stay in Aotearoa, and it’s a good life.”
