Teacher and rugby player set to play 100th match for Auckland
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Eloise Blackwell of Auckland, New Zealand, will play her 100th match for the Auckland Storm rugby team on Saturday, a milestone only matched by one other woman in the team’s history.
Blackwell balances a career as a physical education teacher at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School with her long-standing commitment to rugby. She currently coaches the school’s First XV team, which recently won its first Auckland championship and placed third nationally.
Blackwell began playing for Auckland in 2009 and has also represented the Black Ferns, New Zealand’s national women’s rugby team, in 46 test matches, including a Rugby World Cup win in 2017. She notes a shift in the Auckland team’s success over time, as the addition of new teams to the Dame Farah Palmer Cup and increased professionalism have diluted the concentration of Black Ferns players.
Despite this, Auckland has consistently remained competitive, and Blackwell herself has 71 wins and 23 tries for the team. Her teammate, Charmaine Smith, praises Blackwell’s patient teaching style both on and off the field, noting her ability to explain complex techniques simply. Blackwell herself believes in sharing her experience with younger players, remembering how legends of the game mentored her when she started.
She also acknowledges the importance of learning from current teammates, creating a reciprocal relationship that keeps her motivated to continue playing.
