Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant will celebrate her 50-Test milestone in her team’s World Cup semifinal against Canada on Saturday and said her thoughts over the past few days have centred on the performance required for the knockout match and the friends she has made over her rugby journey.
Demant, whose place in the match-day squad in Bristol will be confirmed early tomorrow NZT, will become only the third Black Fern to achieve the milestone after halfback Kendra Cocksedge (68 Tests) and hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili (58).
The first-five made her international debut in 2018 and achieved World Cup glory in 2022 when she helped New Zealand to a grand final victory over England at Eden Park before being recognised with the World Rugby women’s player of the year award.
Ruahei Demant to celebrate 50 games right as side embarks on RWC semis - Watch on TVNZ+
In an interview with 1News' London-based reporter Kate Nicol-Williams, Demant reflected on her journey.
“I haven’t taken much time to think about the milestone - my focus has predominantly been on the game and my role in the plan,” Demant said.
“My immediate thoughts – I just think about all the friends that I’ve made and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with that have helped me grow as a person and a player.
“A lot of the friendships I’ve built transcend beyond the rugby field. A lot of the women I’ve met continue to serve in the communities they come from back at home. They understand the responsibilities that we have and the important position we hold as Black Ferns.
“They’re so determined to share that dream with anyone they can… I think about the people I’ve shared my journey alongside – the players, the coaches the management.”
The 30-year-old, a qualified lawyer, is a crucial cog in a side which has swept through the pool stage of the tournament in England with victories over Spain, Japan and Ireland before finishing over the top of South Africa 46-17 in their recent quarterfinal in Exeter.
Canada, ranked second in the world behind England and ahead of third-placed New Zealand, will present a sterner test than the South Africans, who had made it to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time.
'We understand what’s required'
The co-captain will become the third Black Fern to celebrate 50 Tests when she runs out for the World Cup semifinal against Canada. (Source: 1News)
But there are enough signs that the Black Ferns’ attack will present problems for any side and Demant said her team had been building throughout. They also have a proud history at the tournament, having won it six times. England, favourites on home soil in 2025, are the next most successful with two victories.
“We know we’re not going to play our best 80-minute rugby at the start of the tournament,” Demant said.
“We know we’re building towards that complete performance. We’ve seen from our stats as the games have gone on that our discipline has gotten better, our handling errors have been fewer… that will contribute to stacking together a more complete performance.
“It’s a great place to be – knowing we haven’t played to our full potential yet. We understand what’s required in those moments.”
Demant, who is originally from the small coastal town of Ōmāio in the eastern Bay of Plenty, and whose first language is te reo Māori, was asked about whether she thought of her younger self recently.
“I think about that girl often, especially when we come to big cities, big stadiums where there are thousands of people and I think to myself, ‘I’m just a girl from Ōmāio and look where I am now’,” she said.
“I know I’m fortunate to be here and I’m the product of the support I’ve had from my community and parents and grandparents and the clubs I’ve represented. I know I’m a role model for my nieces and nephews who want to be not just Black Ferns but who have all these crazy dreams.”
Tune into 1News tonight at 6pm for the full interview with Ruahei Demant
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