Black Fern teaching graduate "exceptional"

Eloise is also the second graduate on the list to have hailed from the tiny population of Great Barrier Island. Last year, lawyer Kiri Toki made the list for her work with the United Nations on the rights of indigenous people.

The annual 40 under 40 list, now in its second year, celebrates the high achievers and game changers who are making a significant contribution in their fields, all before their 40th birthday.

Eloise graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education in 2013 and teaches PE and Health at Epsom Girls Grammar, where she is passionate about influencing the next generation of sportswomen to wear the silver fern.

“I constantly have students asking about my sporting career and what they can do to become a better athlete. I want to empower my students to achieve their goals and dreams and realise that with a bit a hard work and determination anything is possible,” Eloise says.

In 2018 the lock was one of 28 players who became the first ever group of New Zealand women to become contracted professional players.

“It’s a real milestone in the history of women’s rugby but also a huge step in the right direction and I am excited about what the future holds for the sport,” Eloise says.

Her two greatest sporting achievements to date are making her debut at Twickenham Stadium in 2011 for the Black Ferns and winning the Rugby World Cup in 2017.

“There is no greater sporting honour than representing your country on a world stage and it was quite overwhelming taking all that in when I received that first call up.”
 

Sport has been a dominant factor in Eloise’s life from a young age. Growing up on Great Barrier, where you were “barefoot and outside all the time”, Eloise took part in every sport on offer, but rugby quickly became her favourite. She went on to join the Mercury Bay Area School First XV in Whitianga, due to there being no secondary school on Great Barrier, before joining Ponsonby Rugby club as a University student.

Eloise received support from the University to catch up on missed work while on tour, and to balance the time she needed to put into developing her rugby skills.

“While studying at the University of Auckland we were always encouraged to strive for excellence. This is something that I try to apply to all that I do in my work as teacher and as a rugby player,” the 27-year-old says.

“I love my job. The school and staff are extremely supportive of me when I need to take time off to play test matches or I need to be at a training camp.”

Forty exceptional individuals are recognised in the University of Auckland’s annual 40 Under 40 list in six different categories: business leaders, influencers, performers, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, and disruptors and innovators.