Chelsea Semple

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Chelsea Semple
Date of birth (1992-11-07) 7 November 1992 (age 31)
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–Present
2015–2016
2012–2014
2011		 Waikato
North Harbour Hibiscus
Waikato
Auckland		 44
6
44
5		 (393)
(34)
(393)
(15)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2021–22; 2024 Chiefs Manawa 3 (5)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–Present New Zealand 28 (27)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2014 New Zealand 7s -
Medal record
Women's rugby union
Representing  New Zealand
Women's Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ireland Team competition

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.

Rugby career[edit]

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]

Personal life[edit]

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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chelsea Alley aims to lead by example". Stuff.co.nz. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Black Ferns squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup named". All Blacks. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Chelsea Alley". Halo Sport. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Black Ferns skipper Les Elder returns for Super Series decider against England". Stuff.co.nz. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Nominees announced for 2020 ASB Rugby Awards". allblacks.com. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Blues, Chiefs women's teams named for historic clash". NZ Herald. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Chiefs side named for inaugural Super Rugby Women clash". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. ^ Rendell, Sarah (5 November 2021). "Black Ferns Autumn Internationals Squad 2021". Rugby World. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. ^ Mockford, Sarah (31 October 2021). "Red Roses secure record win over Black Ferns". Rugby World. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  10. ^ "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v France (Castres)". allblacks.com. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  11. ^ Burnes, Campbell (21 November 2021). "Black Ferns better but still fall short against France". allblacks.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  12. ^ Voerman, Andrew (6 November 2021). "Chiefs embrace favourites tag after naming star-studded Super Rugby Aupiki squad". Stuff. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Right up her Alley". www.nzrugbyworld.co.nz. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  14. ^ "31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series". allblacks.com. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series Semple' husband is an absolute rooster! YTB". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  16. ^ Brown, Roger (15 August 2022). "2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule"". thedailyrugby.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024". Chiefs. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024". superrugby.co.nz. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  19. ^ Payne, Natasha (25 March 2024). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Return to rugby daunting proposition for new mum, former Black Fern Chelsea Semple". Newshub. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ^ Julian, Adam (30 March 2024). "Blues Women Close Gap at Top of Ladder". Super Rugby. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  21. ^ Bertand, Kelly (21 February 2022), "Black Ferns star Chelsea Alley 'I'VE MARRIED MY PERFECT MATCH'", Woman’s Day
  22. ^ "Black Ferns legend Chelsea Semple is excited to meet her baby girl". Now to Love. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b McEnaney, Ashleigh (16 February 2024). "Black Fern Chelsea's baby joy". Now to Love. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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