Bouncing back from tough times

Gisborne’s Kelsey Teneti has had her challenges in recent times but connecting back to her family roots has been instrumental in her getting back on track in her bid to make the NZ women’s sevens team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a July Facebook post, she wrote openly and honestly of her “mental battle with myself” but also of what playing rugby means to her. “Every time I wear the Black jersey it gives me a purpose and a reminder that I love what I do and I am right where God wants me to be.” Picture by Andrew Cornaga/ www.photosport.co.nz

Waikato-based Gisborne player Kelsey Teneti tasted rugby success straight out of high school after being contracted to the Black Ferns Sevens in 2021.

However it not all been plain sailing since then — going from the highs of national selection and her first test try to injury issues, mental struggles and “comparing my journey to others”.

The Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui athlete said sport was “what every kid did” while growing up in Gisborne.

Her first sporting love was hockey which she started playing at the age of five and continued through most of her schooling years, culminating in her making the NZ Māori women’s squad.

“My mum (Louise) did hockey, so she wanted to make sure I played that.”

She also got into waka ama with the Horouta Waka Hoe club.

“Waka ama was more of a hobby for me to do. It just so happened that I got good at it.”

That “hobby” reached the ultimate high as  part of world champion and national junior women’s 16- and 19s sprint crews.

She was also a talented judoka in her younger years — talent that runs in the family as her first cousin is Commonwealth Games medallist and Paris Olympics hopeful Sydnee Andrews.

Former Kiwi Ferns league and Black Ferns rugby representative Trish Hina got Teneti interested in rugby through her academy.

And while completing her last two years at Hamilton Girls’ High, she caught the eyes of the Black Ferns Sevens and was contracted to the squad at the age of 20.

It came as a complete surprise. “I had no idea that I was close to getting a contract.”

That same year she also played in the inaugural women’s Super Rugby match between the Chiefs Manawa and the Blues in March of 2022.

Teneti debuted for the Black Ferns against the Wallaroos last year and wore the black jersey for a second time later on in the year for the NZ Sevens.

“That was a special moment. You don’t feel like you’re in the team until you actually have the black jersey on your back.”

Teneti paid tribute to her nan who passed away three years ago . . .“to have her name on my back, that was the proudest moment I felt in my sporting career”.

She was brought in as cover for the Black Ferns in this year’s Pacific Fours series and played two tests — the first of those against Canada highlighted by her first test try.

However, her sudden rise into the professional ranks straight from school has been challenging.

“Coming into the professional environment at a young age was tough. I went from playing rugby in high school, club, FPC [Farah Palmer Cup), Super Rugby to nothing,” she said with particular reference to her sevens career.

Living as an elite athlete daily, “you start getting into your head if you are good enough or not good enough”.

“Not making the travelling team and sitting around for a whole year and training as hard I could, I felt at the time I wasn’t moving anywhere. I started to get frustrated that I was feeling this way.”

She reached out to her family back home to let them know “that I wasn’t actually feeling too good”.

“I had to keep reminding myself that it gets better and that it’s OK.”

Teneti said she got herself out of the rut by journalling and doing mindfulness and meditation, but it was “mostly family and connecting back to my roots” — her Māori roots in particular — that helped.

“I love being from Gisborne. I’m a ‘Hearty Ngāti’ girl, you could say. We use a lot of Māori words on the field as well.”

Her main goal next year is to make the Black Ferns sevens team for the Paris Olympics.

“It is a very big goal but anything is possible,” she says.

And if she makes it, she could find herself wearing the silver fern alongside her cousin Sydnee, who is making great strides in her Olympic Games qualifying campaign.

Off the paddock, Teneti is keen on pursuing a career in youth work or the police.

In the meantime, the young superstar is focused on pre-season tournaments with the sevens team leading up to Paris qualifications.

“It’s a big year for us next year but I am excited.” — RNZ