My most inspiring Black Fern retires

When her name was on the list of farewells from the Manawa, it raised a question. Was Kate Henwood part of the talent flush from the Chiefs franchise or was this something else?We had notice soon after for others on the list, Renee Holmes was heading to the Poua, Mererangi Paul to the Blues. Kelly Brazier was following the Charmaine McMenamin route of playing one season to assistant coach the next. But what about Henwood?

We’ve now had the post to answer the question, Henwood is officially retiring. The final chapter of my favourite Black Fern story of recent times. Kate Henwood, my most inspiring player.

Most only know last part of Henwood’s story. It's 2023 and there's a horror run of pre-season injuries in the formidable Manawa front row. A late stage talent search plumb the depths of the region. New head coach, Crystal Kaua, had been an assistant coach with both the Manawa and Bay of Plenty the year earlier. So she was perfectly placed to make the call to plug the talent gap.

But no one was prepared for what came next. The Bay of Plenty Club Queen, completing the oh so women's rugby evolution from back row to front. Her first season* at loosehead was enough to put her on Kaua's radar.

*Fun fact - Kate actually played loosehead earlier that 2022. Packing down against me alllllll the way back in 2015 according to an old programme I have!

Given her first taste of something more serious Henwood thrived in the environment. Going from SOS to starter in just a couple of weeks. The fairy tale continued from there as the accountant received a call at work offering her a coveted Black Ferns contract.

Henwood went on to make her debut in 2023 and last year, made her World Cup debut at a sprightly 37. Hers was a story of talent taking opportunity with both hands. A story of a player hanging in there until the system was finally ready to see just how good she could be. Her story was testimony for us girls, the old ones, who saw her success as our reward.

Henwood had started her footy with the boys in Ōpōtiki. A small rural town, famous for producing Black Ferns. She played in the under 11 boys rep team before heading to college. She met Black Fern #89 Exia Edwards (nee Shelford), when she coached Henwood's sevens team. This relationship sparked something in Henwood, who now knew first hand what excellence looked like.

Sevens was the spark too that brought rugby back to life in Henwood's region. The club scene collapsed in 2006 leading to the withdrawal from the Farah Palmer Cup. It's remarkable how important that 2012 programme was at breathing life back into the women's game. It's impact felt far beyond it's stated intention of finding our Olympic Sevens side.

Bay of Plenty returned to the Farah Palmer Cup in 2014 and Henwood was there. Grafting away in the club scene, doing the invisible but crucial work to make rugby stick. She weathered the bad times in the blue and gold and got to see the good times too. She took time out to have her kids. And then finally, she got her own moment in the spotlight.

Women's rugby owes more than we have yet acknowledged to players like Henwood. Those that keep turning up. Who were there when teams began, folded and restarted, all while their provincial unions sat on their hands. Those that love the game hard enough for them and their sisters, while the game itself wasn't offering a lot of love back.

Henwood's rise in her 30s was remarkable. Remarkable that she stuck around so long after so many false starts. I wonder and maybe she does too, what her career would have been if rugby in her region had been ready for her earlier. If they had properly identified the talent of this hardworking forward. If there had been a pathway for her like there was for her Super Rugby, Māori All Black brother, Sam Henwood.

I wonder too, how many other Henwoods we have missed along the way. That are world famous in their hometown. That may currently be playing outside the catchment of the Farah Palmer Cup, in the Heartland or the shut out provinces like Taranaki and Southland. Who had the hard luck of the wrong postcode, a life that got louder than their rugby ambition or who simply didn't have the means to move towards opportunity.

When I think of Kate Henwood, I think of all the players who may have given up before they were given a chance. You'll know that player at your club, at your region, who you know should have been given a crack. Who has carried the local game on her back. How poor we are for having missed them in their moment.

How lucky we are that we finally got to meet Kate in hers.

With you,

Alice