Black Fern Exia Shelford is getting married tomorrow - fittingly, on a rugby field.
A New Zealand women's rugby representative for seven years, she will wed Graeme Edwards at the Opotiki club grounds where they both coach local teams.
About 500 people, including fellow Black Ferns, are expected to attend.
MsShelford, who celebrates her 29th birthday today, won't be donning a black jersey for the wedding but a traditional white bridal outfit, and will be attended by her friend Suzy Shortland, who retired from rugby after the last World Cup.
Retirement is not on Exia Shelford's agenda, although she is six months pregnant. She has not had a season off, fitting in the new baby so that she will be ready to play for her club and the Ferns next year.
Ms Shelford first made the national women's team in 1998 while playing for the Te Teko club.
At regional level, Ms Shelford played in the Bay of Plenty Volcanics, which won the second division, and was also assistant coach. She hopes they will be in the first division next season.
Rugby is a big part of the couple's lives. They even managed to follow the Bay of Plenty Steamers' successful season, which Ms Shelford described as "awesome."
Officiating at the wedding will be Navy chaplain Colin Gordon from Auckland, who used to play rugby for Opotiki.
Ms Shelford, who has been playing rugby for 10 years and can ably fill virtually every position in the backline, has taken the field at two World Cup tournaments, the Tri Nations in 1999, the Canada Cup in 2000 and the test series against England in 2001.
An all-round sportswoman, she has played international rugby league for the New Zealand Maori team and provincial netball for Bay of Plenty. She also enjoys fishing and squash.
Both Mr Edwards, 44, and Ms Shelford have 10-year-old sons, Tyler and Dylan, from previous relationships.
They will be page boys tomorrow and the flower girl is Ms Shelford's 8-year-old daughter, Monica.
A week after Monica's birth, Ms Shelford was back on the field, and she won't be wasting any time resuming training once her second daughter is born. With Monica into netball, tennis and motocross, she is hoping the new addition to the family will play rugby.
