Black Fern to join NPEC as analyst

Charmaine McMenamin of New Zealand celebrates winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against England last year. McMenamin has taken on a role of performance analyst for Ngāti Porou East Coast. Photosport picture

The Sky Blues are serious about staying ahead of the game.

To that end, Ngāti Porou East Coast director of rugby Hosea Gear and the Kaupoi’s new head coach Kahu Tamatea have been joined by Black Fern Charmaine McMenamin for their 2023 Heartland Championship campaign.

McMenamin, who originates from the East Coast settlement of Rangitukia, will be performance analyst  for the squad.

She brings plenty of experience into the role at international and national level and Gear is pleased to have her on board.

“I’m absolutely rapt to have Charmaine join the group,” Gear said.

“Unfortunately she’s done the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, so she won’t be playing for the rest of the year.

“But that’s great news for us. With her experience — she was one of the best players on the field in the (women’s) world cup final last year — and to have her join us back home in any capacity is huge.

“She’ll bring a different dynamic and an important one,” said Gear.

“There are a few new players in this NPEC squad but we have a large squad for two reasons —  the first is to create some competition among the group; the second is to  get at least half of them to training, so that we’re able to run different things at practice.”

Gisborne Girls’ High old girl McMenamin said she was “super-excited” about being part of the Coast set-up.

“Everything’s up in the air details-wise because I’m due for ACL surgery, but the date for that is still to be finalised.

This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time.

Hosea and Kahu have been awesome. I’m looking forward to working with them — learning and growing in a new environment.”

Auckland Storm captain and No.8 McMenamin has played 31 tests for the Black Ferns — debuting in 2013 after playing international rugby league for the Kiwi Ferns in 2012.

A versatile loose forward, she was a member of the 2017 world cup champion Black Ferns and was named Black Ferns Player of the Year and New Zealand Rugby Players Association International Women’s Player of the Year in 2019 and Women’s Player of the Year in the 2020 Rugby Almanack.