Southland rugby sensation Amy Rule could hardly eat the day her Black Ferns' fate was to be revealed.
The nerves were overpowering.
So when Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore offered a 'congratulations' on the other end of the eventual phone call, Rule was overcome with emotion.
"I was flustered, Idon't even know how to describe it," Rule said. "I had tears in my eyes trying to act professional but I was just so excited. It was so unexpected as you never know.
"It still boggles my mind … I never thought it was possibility to get this opportunity and now I'm here. It's so emotional. I'm making my family proud, my friends proud and I get an opportunity to make my country proud."
Rule was one of 12 debutantes officially named on Monday in the 34-player squad for the upcoming tour of England and France.
Martha Lolohea (L), Kelsie WIlls (CL), Alana Bremner (CR) and Amy Rule (R) during the Oceania Rugby Women's Rugby Championship.
Despite her short time in the sport, Rule has quickly proved to be a talent in the front row.
She moved to Christchurch for university in 2019 and cemented her place as the starting tighthead prop in the championship-winning Farah Palmer Cup Canterbury team before gaining selection in the Black Ferns development team.
But with Covid coming in the way of more recent opportunities, Rule anticipated the tour to be a challenge.
"I definitely haven't had that exposure in the last few years and this is just going to be another step up as I play alongside and against some of the best in the world," she said.
"Being one of the younger props in the side, it's just being able to express myself on the field as well as being confident enough to believe in myself and showcase what I bring to the table as well as just soaking it up like a sponge.
"It's going to be interesting unleashing the small town girl."
Amy Rule of Canterbury. Photo / Photosport
Unlike most, Rule doesn't have an end goal in mind, nor did making the squad signify to her the start of bigger things to come.
Instead, she said she would remain focused on day-to-day challenges and goals.
"It's just about falling back on my 'why'," she explained. "I love training, I love connecting with people and making good friends. Becoming a Black Fern is one goal I'm going to achieve but you've always just got to fall back onto your 'why' and try to continue and improve yourself.
"The process is never-ending, I can always improve on different aspects.
"I just want to play rugby as long as I can and be the best version of myself while I'm doing it."
Meanwhile, outside backs Renee Wickliffe and Ayesha Leti-I'iga have returned from injury and join sevens exponents Portia Woodman, Kelly Brazier and Cheyelle Robins-Reti in an explosive outside backs group.
The squad represents eight of New Zealand's provincial unions, with an average age of 26 and a total of 399 caps experience.
Halfback Kendra Cocksedge has the potential to become the most capped Black Ferns player of all time on this tour, surpassing Fiao'o Faamausili.
The Black Ferns will play England in their first test of the tour on the final weekend of October, with venues, dates and kick-off times yet to be confirmed.
Black Ferns squad
Forwards: Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale, Aldora Itunu, Phillipa Love, Krystal Murray, Aleisha Nelson, Amy Rule, Eloise Blackwell (vice-captain), Joanah Ngan-Woo, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Kelsie Wills, Alana Bremner, Les Elder (captain), Dhys Faleafaga, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Kendra Reynolds, Kennedy Simon
Weekend of October 30/31: v England Weekend of November 6/7: v England Sunday, November 13, 3am: v France; Stade du Hameau, Pau Sunday, November 20, 3am: v France; Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres
