| Date of birth | 7 November 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Chelsea Semple (née Alley, born 7 November 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns side that won their fifth Rugby World Cup title in 2017. She plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Semple made her test debut for the Black Ferns against England in July 2013. [1]
Semple was named in the squad to the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. [2] She scored a try in the Black Ferns 121–0 trouncing of Hong Kong at the World Cup. She has also represented New Zealand in sevens. [3] Semple was part of the winning team of the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series. [4]
In 2020 Semple was nominated for the Fiao'o Fa'amausili Medal for the Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year. [5] She was part of the Chiefs team that played the Blues in the first women's Super Rugby match in 2021. [6] [7] She was then selected for the Black Ferns Autumn International tour of England and France. She featured in the Black Ferns historic 100th test match, England won 43–12. [8] [9] Semple then faced France in her sides 7–29 loss at Castres. [10] [11]
Semple signed with Chiefs Manawa for the inaugural 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season. [12] [13] She was named in the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series. [14] She was recalled into the team for the August test series against Australia for the 2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup. [15] [16]
After missing the 2023 season due to pregnancy, she rejoined Chiefs Manawa for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season. [17] [18] She returned to the field for Chiefs Manawa eight months after giving birth. [19]
In the Chiefs Manawa game against the Blues in Hamilton on 30 March 2024 she came off the bench in the second half in score a try in what was her 100th first-class game. [20]
In 2018 while she was playing for the Waikato women's team she meet James Semple, the team's assistant and backs coach. Their relationship progressed as she advanced to team captain and him to head coach. They married on 5 February 2022. [21]
In 2023 she became the first Black Ferns player on full-time contract to become pregnant. [22] After a 42-hour labour she gave birth to daughter Cameron (”Cami”) Ellie Semple in July 2023. [23] Despite having a seizure immediately after giving birth due to extreme exhaustion and blood loss Semple had sufficiently recovered to begin a gentle fitness training regime two weeks later. [23]
Theresa Matauaina Setefano is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was a member of the Black Ferns champion 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup squads. She has also represented New Zealand in rugby sevens; she won gold medals at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She played for the Blues Women in the 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season.
Aldora Itunu is a rugby union player from New Zealand. She was part of the Black Ferns team that won the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland. She plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, and has made 50 appearances for the Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Hazel Tubic is a New Zealand–based rugby union player. She represents New Zealand internationally and was a member of their 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup champion sides. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Eloise Blackwell is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was a member of New Zealand's squad at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, and was also a part of their champion 2017 side. She also plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.
Krystal Murray is a dual code international rugby player for New Zealand. She competed for the Kiwi Ferns at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup in Australia. She then made her test debut for the Black Ferns in 2021, she was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Northland provincially.
Tenika Willison is a New Zealand rugby sevens and rugby league player. She is currently contracted to the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. She previously played for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She also plays for the Black Ferns sevens internationally and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays as a Lock for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.
Renee Holmes is a New Zealand rugby union player. She played for Matatū in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and in 2024 for Chiefs Manawa. She plays provincial rugby for Waikato. She plays International rugby for the Black Ferns and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad.
Alana Bremner is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Canterbury provincially. She also represents New Zealand internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad.
Chelsea Bremner is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She previously played for Matatū in 2022, but now plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She represents Canterbury at a provincial level.
Grace Steinmetz is a former New Zealand rugby union player. She made her test debut for the Black Ferns in 2022. She played for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, she previously played for Matatū. She also represented Canterbury provincially.
Tanya Kalounivale is a Fijian-born New Zealand rugby union player. She plays at tighthead prop for Waikato and Manurewa Women’s Rugby Club. She was part of the Black Ferns champion 2021 Rugby World Cup squad. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Luka Connor is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns 2021 Rugby World Cup squad that won their sixth title. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition; she also plays for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in the Farah Palmer Cup and club rugby for Rangataua.
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns team that won the 2021 Rugby World Cup. She also plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She played for Hawke's Bay previously before moving to Auckland.
Tafito Lafaele is a New Zealand rugby league player. She made her Black Ferns test debut in 2022. She played for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represented Auckland provincially. She joined the Brisbane Broncos NRLW squad in 2023, making her debut on August 27 against the Canberra Raiders.
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for New Zealand at international level and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Waikato provincially.
Santo Taumata is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Bay of Plenty provincially.
Mererangi Paul is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Counties Manukau in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Rosie Kelly is a New Zealand professional rugby union and rugby league player who currently plays as a centre for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL Women's Premiership.
