• Final fling for Bay rugby's multiple world champ

Final fling for Bay rugby's multiple world champ

Hawke's Bay's three-time world champion Emma Jensen will play her last first class rugby game when the Big Barrel Tui take on Manawatu at Napier's McLean Park tomorrow.


The fifth round Farah Palmer Cup South Zone clash will be the 42-year-old halfback's 176th first class outing, the most by any female player in New Zealand. I wasn't surprised when Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's women's high performance manager Mary Jane Durkin mentioned the always humble Jensen didn't want to make a fuss of her swansong.


Jensen had a pretty good excuse. Earlier this week she became a parent for the second time. It's a tribute to her time management skills as well as her commitment to the Tui that she was was able to fit in this week's trainings and the match.


I remember my introduction to Jensen in the mid 1990s when she was a student at Central Hawke's Bay College. She had made the Hawke's Bay senior women's hockey team in her fifth form year as well as the Tui squad.


Hawke's Bay Hockey's development officer at the time, Jude Rawcliffe, pointed her out to me and told me that while Jensen was more than handy with a hockey stick I will more than likely be writing about her rugby exploits in future than her hockey ones.



How right Rawcliffe proved to be. Jensen went on to play first class rugby for Waikato from 2002 to 2004 and more than 100 games for Auckland from 2005 to 2015 before returning home to play for the Tui in 2018. 


During her international career with the Black Ferns from 2002 to 2015 Jensen played 49 games and scored 53 points. She tasted world championship glory in 2002, '06 and '10.


I wasn't surprised when Jensen was inducted into the Central Hawke's Bay Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and when she captured the Central Hawke's Bay Senior Female Sportsperson Award last year.


I have no doubt more awards will flow her way once word of her final fling gets out. Her tactical nous and classy distribution were influential as the Tui reached last year's Farah Palmer Cup Championship final.


These attributes were again prominent in her matches for the Tui again this season. It will probably be a season or two before the younger member of this season's Tui team fully appreciate how lucky they have been to play alongside a player of her calibre.


Watching and reporting on her progress in rugby ranks up there with my career highlights. Like former All Black Israel Dagg, Black Sox softball legend Thomas Makea and speedway young gun Randal Tarrant to name a few, Jensen, has always been a pleasure to deal with.


Hawke's Bay assistant coach Steve Woods agreed Jensen will be a valuable asset to the Tui team's coaching staff in future.


"Emma has so much to offer. She helped out with the coaching of her Hastings Rugby and Sports team this year and she has the respect of all the younger ones," Woods said.


Woods pointed out all of his troops are amped for their final outing of the season against a Manawatu side which has recorded three wins and one loss to date.


"We've worked hard on our defence and the contact area. We know if we can hold on to the ball for long enough periods we can take Manawatu on."


This year is the 40th anniversary of the first women's match between Manawatu and Hawke's Bay played in Palmerston North on September 14, 1980.


The full Tui team for tomorrow's 4.35pm match:
Michaela Baker, Harmony Kautai, Amelia Pasikala, Jaimee Robin, Cortez Te Pou, Krysten Cottrell, Emma Jensen, Kathleen Brown, Niamh Jefferson, Laurae Blake, Lara Kendrick, Nina Pineaha, Whitley Mareikura, Forne Burkin (captain), Iukika Faavae. Substitutes: Forwards, Amber McKenzie, Jennifer Simati, Ashley Palu, Rebekah Hurae, Denise Aiolupotea. Backs, Shaylee Tipiwai, Nicolette Adamson.