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Black Ferns star Ruby Tui blows young fan away with incredible act
By Finn Morton
Black Ferns wing Ruby Tui continues to show that rugby is about more than just the results on the field after sharing a special moment with a young fan in the stands at Sky Stadium.
Tui, who helped the Black Ferns capture the hearts of a rugby-mad nation during last year’s successful World Cup, embodies the best of what it means to be a professional athlete in New Zealand.
Following New Zealand’s heartbreaking 18-17 loss to France at the Wellington venue late last month, Tui lived up to a promise that she’d made with a fan at an opening training session.
Young Black Ferns supporter Izzy was holding up a sign that read “scissors, paper, rock for your boots,” and Tui certainly held up her “end of the bargain.”
Tui offered rock to Izzy’s paper, and as we all know, paper beats rock. With a smile on her face, Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern Tui signed her boots and passed them over.
“So this is Izzy, and she came to one our open trainings and we made a deal – paper, scissors, rock, I was going to give her my boots,” Tui said in a video on the Black Ferns’ Instagram.
“So keeping my end of the bargain,” Tui said as she walked up to Izzy.
“Got to keep your end of the bargain, and win’s a win. Deal’s a deal.
“Nothing’s better than fans that just follow us but then turn up to every game and that’s Izzy and Anahira, so here you go guys.”
Following New Zealand’s momentous Rugby World Cup triumph at Eden Park last year, Tui gracefully gifted her winners medal to an aspiring Black Fern at a parade in Auckland.
Tui had become arguably the most recognisable rugby player in New Zealand. The Olympic gold medallist was featured on the front cover of Rugby News shortly after, and took things one step further to promote the growth of the women’s game.
Tui started signing the magazine, before later questioning whether it was “legal.”
“You know, they say apparently if there is a woman on the cover of a rugby magazine, that the magazine won’t sell,” Tui said in a video on Twitter.
“So, if you are looking for a last-minute gift or you just want to be a good sort and support a good cause, make sure you go and grab a rugby magazine with a woman’s rugby player on the front.
“And hey, if you’re lucky, you might even get a signed one.”
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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