Kendra Cocksedge, Te Rangi Wilson holding the Women’s Sevens World Cup, Cedar Wairau with the Women’s Rugby Player of the Year Cup and Gayle Broughton.
Best Female Half Back in the World
Students at Tamatea High School were inspired by a visit from Black Fern Rugby player Kendra Cocksedge and New Zealand Women’s Sevens player Gayle Broughton.
Cocksedge who also plays rugby for Canterbury is a dynamic half-back and was the first woman to score 500 NPC rugby points last year. More than that she has played for the Black Ferns since 2007 and last year she was World Women’s Rugby Player of the Year award. Kendra shared that she had written a goal with her coach to be the best rugby player in the world and her hard work paid off.
After Cocksedge address the Tamatea High School assembly, Principal Robin Fabish highlighted the fact that although she is the best half back in the world, Kendra still has to work a job to pay the bills. The Black Ferns aren’t fully professional. Kendra has won the equivalent award to Dan Carter and Ritchie McCaw but doesn’t get the same pay.
New Zealand currently holds the Women’s Sevens World Cup. The Tamatea students were thrilled to see the cup, which Broughton brought with her. Broughton told the assembly that she was lucky enough to have a professional rugby contract when she was only 15.
She’s currently coming back from injury and has her eyes the Rio Olympics Women’s Sevens team. That didn’t stop her from playing basketball with the Tamatea High boys during their morning tea break!
Both Kendra and Gayle are passionate about their goals and have made sacrifices to be at the top of their sports. Mr Fabish said “They are champions who have worked hard to achieve their goals and they inspire us all to do the same.”
