Twelve months ago, Vici-Rose Green was doing what she had always done, turning out for her province and quietly rebuilding after injury setbacks that had threatened to derail her ambitions.
Today, the Morrinsville girl is a Black Fern, a World Cup squad member, and one of New Zealand rugby’s mostexciting emerging forwards.
Speaking on Waikato’s All Sports Breakfast recently, Green reflected on what she describes as a “crazy rollercoaster” year – one that has taken her from Chiefs Manawa and Waikato rugby to the highest level of the women’s game.
“I’ve had time now to look back and reflect,” Green said.
“It’s been a wild 10 months. One minute I’m playing for Manawa, and the next I’m debuting for the Black Ferns, then getting selected for the 2025 World Cup squad. Everything happened so quickly.”
“People take it for granted, but without your body you can’t play. Recovery became everything – ice baths, stretching, compression, eating properly. Just doing all the little things.”
Test rugby, she says, is a different beast entirely.
“It’s hard to explain, but it’s faster, more physical, and it takes everything out of you,” she said.
“You finish a test and there’s nothing left in the tank. But we’re conditioned for it. Our management and coaches prepare us really well.”
Staying grounded
Since the international window closed, Green has returned to sevens and club rugby around the North Island, a move she says helped reconnect her with why she started playing the game in the first place.
Vici-Rose Green celebrates with her bronze medal after the Black Ferns win against France in Twickenham, England, in September 2025. Photo / Peter Nicholls, action press
“Sometimes when you’re playing at a higher level you forget the pathway,” she said.
“Going back to club footy, playing with your mates, chucking the ball around, that’s why I fell in love with rugby.”
Whether under the lights of iconic stadiums or playing on a grassroots field, Green says the joy of the game remains the same.
“I was lucky enough to even step foot at Twickenham. But honestly, playing with your mates is just as special.”
Life as a fulltime athlete
Green is now a fulltime professional athlete, with training being her job.
“That part is awesome. Less awesome when you’re doing pre-season in 30-degree heat, running straight lines and tackling each other. But that’s the mahi.”
Fitness testing is no longer about the dreaded beep test or yo-yo runs, though the infamous bronco still features.
“If you train it, it’s fine. Like anything, the more you practice, the better you get.”
For those who watched Green come through age-group rugby, her rise has been as much about personal growth as about on-field success.
From a talented teenager overcoming injuries to an international athlete wearing black, her story is one of resilience, patience and perspective.
As she heads into a crucial year of preparation, one thing is clear: Green’s journey so far is only just beginning.
Graeme “Mintie” Mead is a sports commentator, the host of the radio show Waikato All Sports Breakfast and a Newstalk ZB overnight host.He is also a Hamilton City councillor.
