Ruby Tui: 'I was trying to grow women's rugby – I had no idea the effect my story would have'

03/31/2025 08:46 AM

The Rugby World Cup winner on her journey from traumatic childhood haunted by domestic violence and alcoholism to being a Black Ferns superstar

"Oh, mate, absolutely," Ruby Tui exclaims from the other side of the world when asked if she will be in England for the women's rugby World Cup this August. "It's not even a question, bro. I'll be there supporting my team or I'll be in my team. Whatever it is, there's no way you can miss the World Cup 2025."

We're deep in an interview that began at seven o'clock on a sleepy Monday morning in England, and eight o'clock that evening in New Zealand, and Tui is flying. The most charismatic woman in world rugby has lit up the past 40 minutes with her powerful personal story and electrifying presence. It's a reminder of how she did the same in November 2022, at Eden Park in Auckland, soon after New Zealand's Black Ferns had beaten England 34-31 in the greatest game in the history of women's rugby.