All Blacks: Dagg tackles fame game with reluctant girlfriend

All Black Israel Dagg and his girlfriend Daisy Aitken. Photo / Supplied

All Black fullback and Rugby World Cup star Israel Dagg and his girlfriend of five years Daisy Aitken prefer to shun the limelight, turning down big money interviews from women's magazines.

Aitken has said she doesn't want to play the "rugby celebrity" game but Dagg's family are happy to talk about them.

Dagg's mother, Horiana Nukutarawhiti, said the pair met at a high school ball in the Hawke's Bay and were coping well with Dagg's sudden fame.

"To him, Daisy is his number one girl," she said. "She is quite an outdoorsy girl ... she's quite a tough girl."

Nukutarawhiti said her son was "as open as any male could be" about his feelings.

"It's known that he is pretty happy."

Aitken, from Gisborne, spent six months working as a nanny in France after completing a health science degree. The couple kept in touch via Skype while Dagg dealt with long-term injury.

Israel's grandfather Pat Dagg, who played rugby for Otago and Hawke's Bay, said Aitken helped keep Dagg's feet on the ground.

"They seem to be happy in each other's company."

The couple spurned women's magazines but agreed to an interview with a Gisborne magazine.

Daisy told BeachLife she didn't want to be caught up in the Wag lifestyle.

"Israel's the famous one, I haven't done anything yet," she said.

Dagg's mum said the couple enjoyed fishing and waterskiing together.

"Once [the Rugby World Cup] is all over they might look at taking off somewhere and going fishing, a bit of quiet time."