Black Ferns star Ruby Tui has given her Rugby World Cup winners’ medal to a young fan who recovered from leukaemia.
The incredible gift is similar to the time Sonny Bill Williams gave his 2015 RWC medal to a young English fan.
Tui met the young girl called Lucia at a fan engagement event during the build up to the final and the girl’s recent battle with cancer, and her dream to play for Black Ferns struck a chord.
Tui spotted the young fan in the crowd and gave her her medal.
The pair were photographed together at a Black Ferns celebration on Sunday.
Renee Holmes and Ruby Tui (centre) of the Black Ferns pose for a photo with Lucia. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Tui appeared in post-match tweets without the medal and was reportedly out celebrating with her teammates without her bling.
Tui is the biggest personality in women’s rugby and had the home crowd in her thrall after New Zealand edged 14-player England in a thriller.
“I’m just so proud to be a New Zealander right now,” Tui said. “They said nobody cared about women’s rugby. Well, guess what, we are here. We are here. We are going nowhere.
“We did it, and it took all of us. Anyone out there defended an England maul before?
“It ain’t easy and went down to the last minute, but we all did it together and New Zealand was a part of it.”
Stuart White
Roar Rookie
Incredible ambassador for the sport and role model for every young girl around the world to play our great game!!! Take a bow Ruby Tui!!!
Objective
Guest
The look of pure joy on that beautiful little girl's face is just priceless. Ruby is a great example of someone who has not allowed themselves to become a victim, despite her difficult upbringing. Quality person. Great for the game.
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
Have been a long time Ruby Tui fan since reading about her years ago when she started in the NZ 7s program. Would like to know the background from her comment that she was 'shafted' by the 7s program. One of the take outs of the RWC is the array of personalities for a number of teams. Just hope Rugby AU tries to leverage the Lor Cramers etc
thebleedingobvious
Roar Rookie
At last an article about the Women’s game, which is superior to the men’s in so many ways. I’m sorry for the Red Roses players who put so much into building an extraordinary team and 30 test winning streak and would’ve cemented a unique and special legacy with a WC, neither team deserved to lose as Kitson wrote. The game was exciting because of the fantastic commitment of both teams, the closeness of score and the Ferns playing a risky open style but am not bothered to watch that game’s ‘highlights’ when having to see 6? Tries from mauls, including some Ferns tries too. Rolling mauls are an ugly mess and a skill less blight on the game. Just because some teams train to do that tactic well as in – ‘we do it because it works for us’ – the game is better than a resort to negative tactics and boring style and a rule change is needed regarding rolling mauls inside the 22 imo. The contest is Lineout, scrum and breakdown, players actually running to beat another and (hopefully) astute kicking and mauling for front foot ball – not a heap of bodies collapsing over the goal line. Next women’s final at a packed Twickers could turn out different, though plenty of growth, youth and depth in Blacks Ferns and they aren’t where they will be with a lot more tests – Sarah Hunter alone, had more caps than the entire Ferns forward pack. The difference for Ferns has been the five 7’s players coming in, Fluhler and Fitzpatrick in particular outstanding at 12 and 13, probably the best in women’s or men’s game, created so much from exceptional skill sets. It’s better for Rugby that the Black Ferns won because women’s rugby (at least as the Ferns play it) is so much more joyfully and expansively played than the men’s game and more entertaining – a better watch imo and long may that style last. The Black ferns are an extraordinary and inspiring team in terms of culture and the way they approach playing the game and the AB’s can learn from them. I’d like to compliment all the Refs at this WC I think they’ve been very good and not sure why some women refs aren’t doing men’s internationals.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The ladies are just so unscripted. its real refreshing.
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
What a treasure she is, grabbing the mike in a live interview and getting the crowd to sing with her, magic stuff.
Sci
Roar Rookie
Beautiful act Ruby Tui. She is an inspiration to many others. Black Ferns showed what positive rugby ( Wayne Smith for a knighthood ! ) can achieve over the forward oriented game ( mauls are now a blight on the game ) but anyone would be nuts not to play to their strengths. The Red Roses can be proud of their effort in the final and of their 3 yr domination – even though as the only full professional outfit. They have raised the standard and did have backs capable of scoring tries also, however it wasn’t to be in the final.