Gisborne Herald
  • Gisborne Herald Home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Gisborne
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Hawke's Bay

Media

  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Gisborne Herald / Sport

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Gisborne Herald
18 Mar, 2023 08:20 AMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

REALISATION OF A DREAM: Renee Holmes sets off on a run for the Black Ferns against the Barbarians. Picture by Kane Hames

REALISATION OF A DREAM: Renee Holmes sets off on a run for the Black Ferns against the Barbarians. Picture by Kane Hames

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When Renee Holmes had to return home from Japan in the midst of a pandemic, she didn't know how much her life would change.

For many, Covid-19 has brought a difficult time of uncertainty, but Holmes has made the most of it and earned her first cap for the Black Ferns.

The Gisborne-raised sports star said she had a split focus on sevens and rugby before starting her Farah Palmer Cup season for Waikato.

She had just returned home from Japan where she was preparing to play a second season of sevens professionally and was excited to be playing rugby in New Zealand again, albeit unexpectedly.

A stellar season thrust her into the discussion for Black Fern selection, but she never thought it would happen so soon.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Last Saturday in Nelson she ran on to the pitch wearing No.15 on her black jersey and played the full 80 minutes.

Every step of the way Holmes has talked about how fortunate she was, with no expectations of making it any further than she already had.

That humility and her desire to soak up as much knowledge as she could helped her rise quickly through the ranks and into a starting place with the Black Ferns.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Holmes had spoken in the past about juggling her sevens and rugby, saying it was a tough balance.

She is still walking that tightrope, having been selected to play in the upcoming Red Bull Ignite7 tournament, where she won the MVP (most valuable player) award last year.

What is certain is that this sporting prodigy has shown she has all the makings of success.

Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Sport

Premium
Sport

'Many sleepless nights': Chair reflects on Rugby Park redevelopment journey

Sport

Another Te K Cup pairs crown to Christophers, Henwood

Sport

From Queenstown to Kings-town for reigning champ William 'the Conqueror'


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Premium
Premium
'Many sleepless nights': Chair reflects on Rugby Park redevelopment journey
Sport

'Many sleepless nights': Chair reflects on Rugby Park redevelopment journey

Player numbers increased by 47% from 2262 to 3321 between 2018 and 2024.

23 Jul 04:00 AM
Another Te K Cup pairs crown to Christophers, Henwood
Sport

Another Te K Cup pairs crown to Christophers, Henwood

23 Jul 03:00 AM
From Queenstown to Kings-town for reigning champ William 'the Conqueror'
Sport

From Queenstown to Kings-town for reigning champ William 'the Conqueror'

22 Jul 06:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Gisborne Herald
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Gisborne Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP