By Michael Burgess *
Analysis - About midday last Sunday, it's fair to say Shannon Muru was speechless. She had just been told of her selection in the Kiwi Ferns, for their test against Fetu Samoa on Saturday at Mt Smart.
If there were long odds on international women's rugby league being staged in Auckland this year, the chances of Muru being involved was even more remote.
Shannon Muru at the Kiwi Ferns captain's run yesterday ahead of the clash with Fetu Samoa tonight. Photo: © Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd
It wasn't something that was even vaguely on her agenda, while at the start of 2020 Muru would not have been a blip on the national selector's radar.
That's because the 22-year-old was 9000km away, preparing for her second season of rugby sevens in Japan.
Her stint with the Azalea club, based in Shizuoka, near Mt Fuji, was going well - "I didn't have to work, just focus on training" - but was cut short due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Muru didn't particularly want to leave but ended up with little choice.
"The borders were closing here so I was kind of forced to come back, otherwise I would have been stuck over there."
She returned to Auckland in May, but sporting pursuits weren't on her mind.
"I wasn't even going to play at all," says Muru. "I thought we weren't going to have any football here. All of the tournaments had been cancelled."
But a few weeks later her former coach at Ponsonby rugby got in touch, followed by a call from Mt Albert league asking if she wanted to play.
Muru first played rugby as a seven-year-old at Waitematā, later switching to Ponsonby. In 2018 she gave league a go, turning out for Richmond, before she headed to Japan the following year.
"It was amazing, probably the highlight of my life so far," says Muru of her time in Shizuoka, around 200km west of Tokyo.
"My team was still developing, learning the game so it was great to help them."
The greatest challenge was the language.
"At first it was so hard," says Muru. "I wouldn't even leave my room. I didn't even want to go down to the shops because I was too scared I would get it wrong and make a fool out of myself."
She acquired enough to get around - and cope on the field - before she had to head home. Once sport started again here this year, Muru decided to juggle both oval ball codes.
"It was rugby Saturday, league Sunday, sore Monday."
Her rugby commitments - she also played in the Farah Palmer Cup - meant she was not eligible for the top two Auckland league representative teams, which is usually a prerequisite for Ferns selection.
Instead she played for the Auckland Vulcans, who competed in the second division of the national championship. But Muru was a standout as the Vulcans reached the final against the Upper North Island, compelling the Ferns selectors to make their surprise call.
"I didn't expect any of this but I'm grateful to be a part of it," says Muru. "I'm overwhelmed, really excited and nervous."
Tonga will play Niue in the curtain raiser on Saturday, before Muru walks out with the Ferns, to stand in front of the national anthem for the first time.
"It's so special for me," says Muru. "I keep thinking about it in my head. I hope I don't cry."
* Michael Burgess has reported on rugby league in New Zealand since 2006.
