Vanessa Cootes (born 26 July 1969) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. She played for New Zealand at an international level and for Waikato provincially. She was a member of the Black Ferns 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cup Champion squads.

Vanessa Cootes
Date of birth (1969-07-26) 26 July 1969 (age 55)
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb; 12 st 0 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Waikato ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1995–2002 New Zealand 16 (215)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's rugby union
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1998 Netherlands Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2002 Spain Team competition

Rugby career

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Cootes was part of the 1998 Rugby World Cup champion squad, she scored four of the Black Ferns eight tries in the final.[1][2] She also competed at the 2002 Rugby World Cup in Spain.[3][4]

Cootes currently holds the Black Ferns record for the most tries scored, with 43 tries in 16 tests, and for the most points and tries scored in a match.[5][4] She scored a record nine tries against France in 1996.[4][5]

She received her Black Ferns cap in 2018.[4]

References

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  1. ^ IRB (2014). "Women's Rugby World Cup history". Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Rugby's all-time greatest women's XV". Rugby World. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  3. ^ worldrugby.org. "World Rugby | world.rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Robinson, Melodie (15 October 2022). "Remembering the Black Ferns' 1998 Rugby World Cup strike weapons". The Spinoff. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b Julian, Adam (12 October 2022). "World Cup excites with tries galore". allblacks.com. Retrieved 1 January 2023.