Charmaine McMenamin

McMenamin played Rugby League for New Zealand, debuting in 2010 against the touring England team.^[1] In February 2016, she played in the NRL Auckland Nines and in a Test Match against Australia.^[2][3][4]

In 2013, McMenamin made her international debut for the Black Ferns against England at Auckland.^[5][6] She was selected for the Black Ferns squad to the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.^[7][8]

McMenamin featured in two test matches against Australia in August 2018.^[9][10]

In June 2019, McMenamin was part of the winning team of the Super Series in San Diego.^[11][12] She next featured in two tests against the Wallaroos in August as the Black Ferns clean swept the series.^[13][14] She scored two first half tries in the first test as New Zealand won 47–10.^[15] She then scored again in the second test to help the Black Ferns win 37–8 and retain the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.^[16]

In December 2019, She was awarded the International Women's Player of the Year by the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.^[17][18]

McMenamin was named as Vice-captain of the Possibles team in a Black Ferns trial match in November.^[19] She turned out for the Black Ferns a week later in two games against the New Zealand Barbarians.^[20]

McMenamin played for the Blues against the Chiefs in the first-ever women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand on 1 May 2021.^[21][22] She later discovered that she had bone spurs on her spinal cord that required surgery. She has since recovered after a spinal fusion in October.^[6][23]

In July 2022, McMenamin played for the Ngalingali team in a Black Ferns trial match.^[20] She made her return to the Black Ferns as she was selected in the squad for the Laurie O’Reilly Cup Test series against Australia in August.^[24][25][26]

McMenamin made the Black Ferns 32-player squad for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.^[27][28]

On 23 October 2024, the Blues Women announced that McMenamin would be joining their coaching staff as forwards coach for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season.^[29]

• Charmaine McMenamin at the Black Ferns (archive)