Charmaine McMenamin (born 13 May 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player. She previously played for the Kiwi Ferns in 2010 before making her test debut for the Black Ferns in 2013. She was a member of the Black Ferns victorious 2017 and 2021 squads.

Charmaine McMenamin
McMenamin in 2017
Date of birth (1990-05-13) 13 May 1990 (age 33)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Hawkes Bay 1 (0)
2011–2020 Auckland 60 (75)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–Present Blues Women 1 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–Present New Zealand 27 (20)
Medal record
Women's rugby union
Representing  New Zealand
Women's Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ireland Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2021 New Zealand Team competition

McMenamin plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

Early life edit

McMenamin was born in Wellington but was raised on the East Cape. She attended Gisborne Girls' High School. She affiliates with the Ngāti Porou iwi.

Rugby career edit

Rugby League edit

McMenamin played Rugby League for New Zealand, debuting in 2010 against the touring England team.[1] In February 2016, she played in the NRL Auckland Nines and in a Test Match against Australia.[2][3][4]

Rugby Union edit

In 2013, McMenamin made her international debut for the Black Ferns against England at Auckland.[5][6] She was selected for the Black Ferns squad to the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.[7][8]

McMenamin featured in two test matches against Australia in August 2018.[9][10]

In June 2019, McMenamin was part of the winning team of the Super Series in San Diego.[11][12] She next featured in two tests against the Wallaroos in August as the Black Ferns clean swept the series.[13][14] She scored two first half tries in the first test as New Zealand won 47–10.[15] She then scored again in the second test to help the Black Ferns win 37–8 and retain the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[16]

In December 2019, She was awarded the International Women's Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.[17][18]

McMenamin was named as Vice-captain of the Possibles team in a Black Ferns trial match in November.[19] She turned out for the Black Ferns a week later in two games against the New Zealand Barbarians.[20]

McMenamin played for the Blues against the Chiefs in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand on 1 May 2021.[21][22] She later discovered that she had bone spurs on her spinal cord that required surgery. She has since recovered after a spinal fusion in October.[6][23]

In July 2022, McMenamin played for the Ngalingali team in a Black Ferns trial match.[20] She made her return to the Black Ferns as she was selected in the squad for the Laurie O’Reilly Cup Test series against Australia in August.[24][25][26]

McMenamin made the Black Ferns 32-player squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.[27][28]

References edit

  1. ^ "New Zealand 38 v 6 England - Match Report". European Rugby League. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Newbies named for NRL Nines Kiwi Ferns squad". Auckland Rugby League. 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Australian Jillaroos v NZ Kiwi Ferns". Big League. 5 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Jillaroos v Ferns". Big League. 12 May 2016.
  5. ^ Hill, John (21 October 2016). "From Gizzy to Black Ferns". gisborneherald.co.nz. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b Julian, Adam (16 August 2022). "Charmaine McMenamin returns to Black Ferns". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Black Ferns squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup named". All Blacks. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Black Ferns World Cup squad named". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Black Ferns skipper Fiao'o Fa'amausili scores brilliant hat-trick as NZ dominate Wallaroos". 1 News. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  10. ^ Newman, Beth (23 August 2018). "Black Ferns sweating on prop injury ahead of Auckland Test". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  11. ^ "New look Black Ferns headed for San Diego". Americas Rugby News. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Black Ferns skipper Les Elder returns for Super Series decider against England". Stuff.co.nz. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  13. ^ Robinson, Luke (10 August 2019). "Live updates: Black Ferns v Wallaroos in Perth - Laurie O'Reilly Memorial Trophy test". Newshub. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Wallaroos make two changes for second Test". ESPN.com. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. ^ Wall, Jamie (10 August 2019). "Black Ferns smash Australia". Māori Television. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Buildcorp Wallaroos fall at Eden Park". australia.rugby. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Savea and McMenamin voted NZ players' players of the year". RNZ. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  18. ^ Perry, James (9 December 2019). "McMenamin voted players' Player of the Year". Māori Television. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Possibles v Probables named for Black Ferns trial". Chiefs. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b Pearson, Joseph (7 July 2022). "Black Ferns loose forward Charmaine McMenamin on the comeback trail from rare spinal injury". Stuff. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  21. ^ "nib BLUES WOMEN'S TEAM EXCITED FOR HISTORIC CLASH". Blues Rugby. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Women's Super Rugby Preview: Blues v Chiefs (2021)". allblacks.com. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Sevens stars named in Black Ferns as Simon and McMenamin return". RNZ. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Wayne Smith eyeing sevens stars for Black Ferns' World Cup tilt". 1 News. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Sevens stars named in Black Ferns as Simon and McMenamin return". RNZ. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Black Ferns squad locked in for Rugby World Cup". allblacks.com. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Black Ferns Rugby World Cup squad named". RNZ. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.

External links edit