Steph Te Ohaere-Fox is set to etch her name into Canterbury Rugby history books, becoming the first woman in the unions 142-year history to notch up 100 Farah Cup matches when Canterbury takes on Wellington in Christchurch on Sunday.

The former captain who led Canterbury to three titles arrived in Christchurch back in 2001 for a summer holiday to visit her sister, was then enticed to stay with the opportunity to play rugby with the Aranui Academy, playing Canterbury School Girls in 2002 and then the Canterbury Development side in 2003. A year later Te Ohaere-Fox made her debut for the Canterbury FPC side, and has played every year since, apart from 2010 and 2011 where she stayed on in the UK following the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and last season due to the birth of her daughter Anatia.

“Yeah, Anatia turns one next month, but I just couldn’t wait to be back playing along side my mates who are like my second family,” said Te Ohaere-Fox.

Whilst originally from a small rural town called Kerepehi in the Firth of Thames, Steph says she was always destined to wear the red and black hoops of Canterbury. “It’s funny really, Kerepehi was my dad’s club, I used to watch him play and that’s where my love for rugby started, their colours are red and black, Christchurch, my club here in Canterbury is red and black and so too Canterbury.”

Te Ohaere-Fox becomes the first player since Andrew Merhtens to run out 100 times for Canterbury, something the former All Black thinks is pretty special. “To think what Steph’s been able to achieve is simply remarkable, to play for Canterbury, to lead them, to play for the Black Ferns, become a mother! Returning to play and continue to be competitive across three decades is a massive achievement and something to be very proud of.”

Te Ohaere-Fox will pack down in the front row alongside long term teammates Rebecca Todd and Pip Love, while Greer O’Rourke gets her first start of the year at openside flanker, so too Marcell Parkes who’ll start at number 8 against her former side.

The backline that beat Waikato last week in Hamilton remains largely unchanged with Amy du Plessis coming onto the left wing, replacing fellow Blackfern Grace Steinmetz. Bronwyn Dibb returns to the bench having been at the National Gymnastics Championships last week where the fleet footed winger won 2 golds in the Trampoline and Double Mini Trampoline.

Kick off is at 2:05 and is also broadcast on Sky Sport. 

Team to play Wellington:

1 Phillipa Love

2 Rebecca Todd

3 Steph Te Ohaere-Fox

4 Stacey Niao

5 Chelsea Bremner

6 Alana Bremner (C)

7 Greer O'Rourke

8 Marcelle Parkes

9 Kendra Cocksedge

10 Terauoriwa Gapper

11 Amy du Plessis 

12 Liv McGoverne

13 Grace Brooker

14 Isabella Waterman

15 Rosie Kelly  

16 Georgia Ponsonby

17 Amy Rule 

18 Lucy Anderson 

19 Emma Dermody

20 Jorja Miller*

21 Dianne Hiini

22 Bronwyn Dibb

23 Tayla Simpson

Article added: Friday 30 July 2021