Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge says she's reached an age where she can't take a break from training over the festive season.
Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge during on the New Zealand women's rugby team's rare games in 2020. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The talented halfback has been playing for the Black Ferns since she was a teenager and the two-time world cup winner is focused on being ready to help New Zealand defend their title on home soil in October.
Cocksedge is the second most capped Black Fern and the team's leading pointscorer - so she knows what is required to be the best.
"My body, I've got to keep it moving, if I don't train and then try and get back into it it gets a little bit niggly so I've just got to continue to go and as you get older it is harder to get that fitness so you've got to try to keep it," the 32-year-old said.
Running and cycling were on the agenda for Cocksedge when other people were having some down time but it was not all work and no play.
"You can still train but you've got to be able to enjoy time with family and friends and have a good break and enjoy the food but still train hard knowing that there's a world cup next year at home and you want to do everything you can to be part of that team."
The 2015 World Rugby Women's Player of the Year returned home to Taranaki over the Christmas break and had to keep a secret from her family.
Cocksedge is made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby in the New Year honours and she knew waiting until the annual end-of-year family recap of what they were most proud of would be a good time to break the news to those closest to her.
Awards for her on-field performance are not new but Cocksedge was thrown by an email that alerted her to her honours nomination.
Initially she thought the official government email was spam and nearly deleted it.
After reading the attachment she realised it was legitimate and the importance associated with honours.
"I was pretty blown away with getting an email like that."
Kendra Cocksedge helped Canterbury to a fourth consecutive Farah Palmer Cup title. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
While she had plenty of highlights in 2020, including another Farah Palmer Cup title with Canterbury, she also faced some challenges brought about by Covid-19.
The Black Ferns were scheduled to play a record seven home Tests in 2020, as part of their world cup build-up, until the sports world temporarily shutdown - leaving the Black Ferns with no international matches.
"I was pretty gutted that we weren't going to have the games that we were going to get this year," Cocksedge said.
"So for me it was about focusing on the Farah Palmer Cup and getting through that and then we got those games with the Probables and Possibles and the Barbarians.
"Then straight from there I was like let's re-set and try and focus on next year and what will be the biggest one will be turning over the new year - for me the first of January is when it's going to be really serious."
Not only will 2021 be serious for Cocksedge and her teammates it is also a year in which the spotlight will be turned on women's rugby.
"Women's rugby is still at a vulnerable stage but we're getting a lot more backing, I think it's only going to go from strength to strength and I think the world cup is probably going to be the start of that."
Cocksedge works as a women's rugby participation manager for New Zealand Rugby and has not only played alongside some up and coming players in the Farah Palmer Cup in 2020 but she has also been impressed by what she has seen with the Ignite Sevens programme.
"The future of rugby in New Zealand and the talent here is in a really good place, so when I retire at least I know there will be some young one coming through."
