Sene Naoupu

Rugby

Once there was a girl called Sene, who was born and raised in New Zealand by her mum. When her brother took up rugby, Sene went to all his matches and it wasn’t long before she was playing too. She was only thirteen when she was asked to join the local senior women’s team. Even though she was playing against people who were much older than her, Sene loved the rugby culture.

Sene was also very good at basketball and won a scholarship to play at college. But when the time came to choose between the sports, Sene decided her future was in rugby. She put all her effort into becoming the best player she could be and she was soon invited to train with the New Zealand national squad. Sene had grown up watching the Black Ferns and knew it was a huge opportunity, but she was so overcome with anxiety she couldn’t perform to her best.

Unfortunately, Sene didn’t make the team and her battle with anxiety lasted for several years. She put pressure on herself to be perfect and developed an eating disorder. She lost the strength to play rugby and for a long time Sene felt like her life was out of control. It was only when she moved to Ireland in 2009 that she found a new perspective. When she saw an ad for open trials for the Irish rugby sevens programme, Sene felt like maybe it was her second chance. Instead of putting pressure on herself, she decided to just enjoy playing. When the coaches told Sene she had made the team, she was overcome with joy.

Sene made her Six Nations debut in 2015, helping Ireland to win the championship. The following season she was named Player of the Year. In a short space of time, Sene had become one of Ireland’s key leaders. As she accepted her award, Sene thanked her coaches and teammates for giving her a second chance in the sport she loves. After years of chasing perfection, she had finally found the perfect life in her new home.