I go in there and I literally talk to a 16-year-old who’s trying to help his family. He’s studying to be with Downer, on the road programme. You know, he might be struggling with work and family things. An example: “Our team is a waka and we leave mana in our wake.” And another: “It’s not your skin colour, your salary or any of that stuff that makes you great; it’s your fight, it’s your work ethic.” The World Cup success catapulted women’s rugby into the spotlight in New Zealand like never before. Tui, who was later crowned World Rugby’s Women’s Breakthrough Player of 2022, was inundated with “lucrative” offers to play overseas and signed to play in the Premier Rugby Sevens competition in the United States, for which men and women are paid equally. Yeah, OK. You’re kiwi, you know, I thought that was low key out the gate. Because I felt like we were just having a chat,” said Tui.

Ruby is such an inspiration lady and a central reason why the world fell in love with her and her fellow sevens sisters. They are breaking down so may glass ceilings on the old boys rugby, not just in New Zealand but in the world. She is key player who said refused to let the old boys club tell her that women’s ruby doesn’t matter, that they would never win any tournaments, medal or world cups and especially she wasn’t not listening when they told her that women’s rugby wouldn’t sell out Eden Park. I mean she only wrote the books because she went to a bookstore and saw that there was only ONE book about a sportswomen (and none from a Samoan I bet). She doesn’t like to be told she can’t do something because of her gender or ethnicity and I love that. Anyway the conversation between Tui and co-hosts Melanie Bracewell (another kiwi) and Tim McDonald was very tongue-in-cheek. Laugh-a-minute stuff. That’s been really, really huge and it matters … you’ve got to go out of your way for things you actually believe in. Everything I do every day, I believe in every job I do. I said, ‘I will not put anything in there that you’re not okay with’, and she felt a lot better. I said, ‘I really want to put in the Women’s Refuge and everything’. Obviously, she didn’t feel like…” Tui’s voice tapers off. Her father’s battle with the bottle. Her mother lived for a time – a long time – with that abusive new partner.

Get the RNZ app

Her memoir Straight Up was the bestselling book in New Zealand in 2022, and Ruby's brilliant rugby skills and amazing personality won the hearts of New Zealanders, culminating in her shortlisting for the New Zealander of the Year.

Even though things weren’t perfect when I was little, I love both my mum and my dad dearly. They are such different people, and for a little while I was a bit sour at them for various reasons. But then I grew up a bit, I worked on my empathy and now I am just so thankful to both of them. Ruby on her 18th birthday with her Mum. I’m not ashamed to admit it: I HAVE A HUGE GIRL CRUSH ON RUBY TUI so this review might be a bit bias. Until just before this book was published, most people didn't know the truth of Ruby's childhood. I'll leave it for you to discover in this book - other than at the end there is just the slightest tinge of bitterness when she says; Sometimes a cliche but mostly an inspiration. We are going to give tis book away to young people doing the Award in our Christmas giveaways.Life is crazy, she says, and she’s not going to say yes to every potential sponsor or offer. “It’s like, well, what are you doing to make a difference? As a child, Ruby was exposed to a lot of drug and alcohol abuse and later had a period of "chaotic lubrication" herself. So she’s not ready to retire yet; she’s had great advice from the likes of mentor Keven Mealamu and the rugby players’ association. Though US national teams have struggled recently, the men failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup in France and the women losing a quarter-final to Canada in New Zealand last year, World Rugby is increasingly focused on the US. The 2031 men’s World Cup and 2033 women’s World Cup will be played on American soil.

Not only is Ruby a superstar on the field, but she is also one of the greatest ambassadors for rugby and most significant advocates for women’s sports globally. If you talk to anyone in New Zealand, that is straight up what it’s like. I didn’t even know we were live on TV, I was just giving her – and then she started asking me questions. I was like, ‘Oh Jo, we’re like, on TV.’”Things happen in your life and unfortunately they can shape you in negative ways. I became very fearful, I was holding it within me. I actually, in my little kid brain, thought that if I was around drugs or the white powder that I was responsible for killing people because of what I'd seen. When I see the contract in front of me, it’s not so much about everybody else. It’s like, well, Ruby, is your heart on this? Is your passion still in this? She’s spoken to some players who think they have given up too early; others perhaps held on for too long.