RUAHEI DEMANT

The World Cup winner hopes to pick up where she left off for the Black Ferns

- Campbell Burnes

WE THOUGHT it was high time to have a yarn with the world’s best women’s rugby player. High time the Black Ferns are back in action, too, albeit on a Thursday night when they face the Wallaroos in Brisbane.

Ruahei Demant will co-captain the Black Ferns again after her stellar 2022 season, culminating in World Cup glory and being adjudged World Rugby’s women’s 15s Player of the Year. It was a remarkable rise for the 28-year-old, previously cast as a second five (inside-centre) who could move in one if required. She ran with aplomb, passed beautifully and maintained her composure in several clutch situations. Her tactical kicking is developing too.

Even after just one Black Ferns camp in April, Demant could feel a positive vibe, despite the plethora of changes in both the playing and coaching groups.

“It’s always refreshing stepping back into the space, not only when new people and coaches come in but also newly contracted players,” she says.

“We try to structure the camps like a Test week. Parts of the training can get quite taxing. The coaches try to make training harder than a game for us.”