Injured Black Fern's silver lining 'I GOT A DAUGHTER!'

Charmaine's time off the field wasn't wasted after ticking off a family goal

- Catherine Milford

Three years ago, Charmaine Smith’s world lay in tatters. A bulging disk pressing on her spinal cord left the award-winning Black Fern with no alternative but to medically retire from professional rugby. These days, she’s competing in rugby’s inaugural global women’s rugby tournament, WXV1, and in the best form of her life. She’s also mum to her ultimate bundle of joy, two-year-old Amīria.

“I feel so good,” says Charmaine, 32, who says she is now in peak physical condition – even more so than before her injury. “It’s taken a long time for me to get my body back to full fitness after having a baby and after having my injury. It’s been a challenge – and trainings are tough – but I love a challenge! It’s been a hard road, but I truly feel confident in what my body can do now.”

In fact, Charmaine believes what happened has changed her for the better.

“I feel lucky – I really do,” says the rugby lock, who is currently training full-time while her parents, Hayley and Brian Smith, and partner Tamati Thompson, 32, share Amīria’s daycare runs. “When you have something taken away from you really suddenly like that, it hurts.