Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili. Photo / Getty
Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili. Photo / Getty
Ahead of the Black Ferns' first game on home soil since winning the World Cup last year, their inspirational captain Fiao'o Faamausili talks to Joel Kulasingham about the long road from rugby's perpetual curtain raiser to the headline act.
As the rest of the Black Ferns – fresh off beating the Wallaroos in Sydney – enjoyed a deserved midweek day off, their captain Fiao'o Faamausili was called into more urgent business.
"I ended up giving evidence in court for one of my cases," says Faamausili who along with being the most capped Black Fern of all time, works as a police officer.
"I spoke with New Zealand Rugby about it and they were aware of it so they let me go to it. I've been juggling work and rugby ever since I started playing."
Faamausili, 37, is the Black Ferns' legendary hooker who leads with a rugged equanimity and a crooked smile.
Her list of achievements – made more impressive considering she's had to juggle rugby and a job her whole life, a norm for most Black Ferns – is almost too long to list.
Faamausili has been to five World Cups (a feat not even Richie McCaw could achieve), is the first woman to play 100 games for one province, the first woman to be canonised on the cover of the Rugby Almanack (the world's longest rugby book of record), and earlier this year, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to rugby.
And she's not done.
"As long as the body is willing and I'm enjoying my rugby, I'll still be trucking along," she says.
"If I can be here to help out and keep that Black Ferns spirit or culture alive then I'm happy to do so."
If leading the Black Ferns to a World Cup triumph last year – the fourth World Cup win of her career – was a culmination of an almost two decade long career, then Saturday's test against the Wallaroos at Eden Park feels like a victory lap.
It will be the Black Ferns' first chance to play in front of their home crowd since defeating England in the World Cup final last year in Belfast.
"Eden Park is our favourite ground," she says. "My family and friends are gonna be there. We're on home soil, and you couldn't ask for a better venue.
"We play for our families and to have our families right there is even more special. You'll see a lot of emotion pouring out of the girls this weekend for sure."
Fiao'o Faamausili of New Zealand celebrates with the trophy following the Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 final. Photo / Getty
Saturday's test is part of a double header, with the Black Ferns and Wallaroos playing before the respective men's sides.
It's a sign of the progress that women's rugby has made and the public's appetite for the sport, which seems to be at an all-time high. But last week, we were given a reminder that there's still a long way to go.
Before last Saturday's double-header in Sydney, the Black Ferns weren't allowed to warm-up for their test on the main field at ANZ Stadium, a privilege that was offered to their male counterparts.
While it was perhaps an indictment on Australia's intentions on hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2021, more importantly it was yet another example of women's rugby being treated as second fiddle to the men's game, a perpetual curtain raiser, an opening act. But Faamausili sees it differently.
"I think we're both main games, we're just on at a different time.
"Us girls we work just as hard and we're just thankful to get the opportunity to be playing on the same field as the All Blacks. They're an amazing team. They've shown what they're made of and they're all class.
"To play on the same pitch as them is awesome and it's always exciting to play at home."
After last year's World Cup final, Faamausili decided to hang up her boots. But she decided to come out of retirement when NZ Rugby announced in March that she was one of 30 Black Ferns players who would be receiving professional contracts.
Her return is a testament to her dedication and love for the sport – and her ability to still produce at the highest level. (She was invaluable against the Wallaroos last week, scoring a hat-trick in the Black Ferns' 31-11 victory.) But it has also meant putting other things in life on hold like her desire to start a family.
We're in a time as a society when our biggest athletes like Serena Williams – and even our Prime Ministers – are showing that starting a family while at the top of your craft is not only possible but very much a viable option for women.
Fiao'o Faamausili scores a try. Photo / Photosport
But Faamausili says it's still difficult for women in rugby.
"It's not like all the males where we can still have families and play because [for] females it takes [you out of the game] for about a year at least. The guys can do it all; they can go and have a family and still play.
"From the point of view of females, we're the ones that have the baby. They can actually go and play rugby, and I can't do that.
"We talk about sacrifices but it's [also] a choice. I chose to do what I do and I chose to be police officer which is quite difficult, and I chose to play rugby at a high level.
"It takes a lot of my time and my family are very supportive. My friends are really supportive. When one thing slows down, then I'll have more time for other things."
But it is slowly getting better as the profile of the game rises and attitudes towards women's sport improve. We're not far away from seeing a fully professional Black Ferns side.
"With the senior contracts coming in, they are supportive of females and obviously parental leave and that kind of stuff, so that's pretty good," she says.
"It's great that we're receiving recognition now. I wish it was a lot earlier … but now it's come to this point and I can see that it's only going to get better.
"The game is growing and so many girls are playing it these days and not just within New Zealand but just everywhere in the world. It's probably one of the most talked about sports and the fastest growing sports there is now, women's rugby."
For now, Faamausili – a trailblazer if there ever was one – remains focused on the thing (or things) she does best. She hopes her story will inspire young New Zealanders, especially women and Samoans.
"I'm in a position where I'm in a male dominant career path and a male dominant sport," she says.
"So I don't shy away from saying that I always try and put my best foot forward and always challenging myself and always talk about challenging us.
"At this age and at this time, I'm just hoping that girls just follow. Especially being a pacific female – there's not many Samoan female officers and I know there's a lot of girls that would love to be a police officer.
"If I can do it coming from South Auckland, and not having as much opportunities but making the most out of the opportunities that were given to me. If I can overcome all that and become a police officer and a professional rugby player, then any girl from whatever part of New Zealand or Samoa can have those dreams as well and can achieve those dreams."
If justice is served tomorrow, just like it was in court earlier in the week, Faamausili and the Black Ferns will receive the reception they deserve on their return to Eden Park.
