New Zealand Rugby's announced its 40 contracted Black Ferns to continue building towards the 2025 World Cup.
Among the five to earn first-time contracts is 21-year old Maia Joseph - who received the news while driving home from Matatū training in Lincoln.
"Bunts (coach Allan Bunting) called and I pulled over. You dream about it for so long and then when it happened I was just so excited and really surprised," she said.
The first people she called were her parents.
Maia Joseph, daughter of rugby legend Jamie, has earned a Black Ferns contract for the first time. (Source: 1News)
"Oh it was unbelievable cause I know how hard she has worked and how much's she really wanted it from a young age," said dad Jamie, now head of rugby at the Highlanders.
Growing up playing under 5s for Pōneke in Wellington, Maia always dreamt of being "the first girl All Black".
"She never looked out of place," said Jamie.
"I mean all the attributes you want to see in a national rugby player - whether it be man, boy, girl or young woman - she has those."
Many of those attributes she inherited from her dad - a former All Black and international coach - and she also paid tribute to the influence her whole family had.
"(Rugby) is definitely a big part of my family, we've moved around a lot for dad's work and mum's always been just so supportive of me and my siblings," Maia, a halfback and first-five, said.
"He (Jamie) wasn't always talking to me about rugby though, he waited for me to go to him which I appreciated but when I did go to him he always had good advice and still does."
It was advice around the mental skills needed in order to succeed that Maia's drawn on most.
"The things (that until now) you don't get taught like missing out on selection, overcoming injuries," she said, having overcome a serious ACL injury.
Maia's full-time contract was slightly conflicting for Jamie, given his rugby background.
"It was tricky because in my role as coach I'm always encouraging my players to take on rugby cause it's what I do," he said.
"But Maia's also a medical student and she's completed three full years of med school - she's pursuing this dream by sacrificing her medical career."
Her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Otago is now on hold.
"She made the call - she said 'Dad I want to be a Black Fern, I want to go to the World Cup, and to able to do that I've got to go 100%', and she's a 100% kind of girl," he said.
The Black Ferns open their 2024 season on May 11 when they host USA in Hamilton.
2024 contracted Black Ferns group:
Alana Bremner (Matatū, Canterbury), Aldora Itunu (Blues, Auckland), Amy du Plessis (Matatū, Canterbury), Amy Rule (Matatū, Canterbury), Ariana Bayler (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato), Atlanta Lolohea (Matatū, Canterbury), Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Hurricanes Poua, Wellington), Awhi Tangen-Wainohu (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato), Charmaine Smith (Chiefs Manawa, Northland), Chelsea Bremner (Chiefs Manawa, Canterbury), Chryss Viliko (Blues, Auckland), Georgia Ponsonby (Matatū, Canterbury), Grace Steinmetz (Chiefs Manawa, Canterbury), Hannah King (Hurricanes Poua, Canterbury), Iritana Hohaia (Hurricanes Poua, Taranaki), Joanah Ngan Woo (Hurricanes Poua, Wellington), Kahlia Awa (Blues, Hawke’s Bay), Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matatū, Manawatū), Kate Henwood (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty), Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues, Auckland), Kennedy Simon (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato), Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Blues, Auckland), Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua, Manawatū), Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (Blues, Auckland), Lucy Jenkins (Matatū, Canterbury), Luka Connor (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty), Leaso Grace Gago Tiatia (Blues, Counties Manukau), Maama Vaipulu (Blues, Auckland), Maia Joseph (Matatū, Otago), Maiakawanakaulani Roos (Blues, Auckland), Marcelle Parkes (Matatū, Canterbury), Mererangi Paul (Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau), Monica Tagoai (Hurricanes Poua, Wellington), Patricia Maliepo (Blues, Auckland), Renee Holmes (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato), Ruahei Demant (Blues, Auckland), Ruby Tui (Chiefs Manawa, Counties Manukau), Santo Taumata (Chiefs Manawa, Bay of Plenty), Sophie Fisher (Blues, Auckland), Tanya Kalounivale (Chiefs Manawa, Waikato).
SHARE ME