When Amber Perry runs out on to the rugby field, she says it feels like “my heart is racing at 100 miles per hour”.
But the second the whistle blows, every thought, nerve or bit of sickness she felt just disappears, the passionate sports star tells The Profile.
The 17-year-old’s footsteps into the sport of rugby began when she was a year-8 student.
“My friend actually dragged me into the team to come and play with her so she wouldn’t be the only girl, but after a while my passion for the game has only gotten stronger and stronger.”
It’s what makes her recent news a milestone moment.
The young athlete was selected by New Zealand Rugby to join the New Zealand Under 18 Girls’ Pathway Programme camp at St Peters School in Cambridge from July 5-10.
The promising player, who is also a Hauraki Plains College head student, said she was “really excited” and looked forward to “being a sponge” and picking up on the technical sides of the game.
She was prepared for the camp to challenge her and knew “I’ll be stretched outside of my comfort zone”, she said.
“I think this will be a test from them to see how everyone will react to it.”
Amber’s preparation for the camp was to “get my mindset right” as the most important thing in sport was “your top two inches”, she said.
She was inspired to chase after her dreams by the people in her life, such as dad Jake Perry and HPC First XV girls coach Angela Forsyth.
“These two [have] been support pillars for me with rugby. They support me in every way [and] shape possible. I wouldn’t be selected for this camp without them.”
The rugby prodigy said she was also interested to one day play in the Farah Palmer Cup and Super Rugby Aupiki.
“As a girl I think we’ve always heard boys say they wish to be an All Black, so with more girls wanting to play and get involved with the game, I think there will be more girls saying I want to be a Black Fern.”
Her gratitude for the women in sport around her was evident.
“A strength of the Thames Valley is that every team I play for and against is full of amazing women. During this rugby season I have been playing in the Thames Valley Women’s competition for Te Poho O Paeroa.
“I enjoy playing with everyone in the team but playing alongside [Black Fern] Steph Te Ohaere-Fox has been a real privilege,” she said.
Not only was Steph a great mentor to learn from, Amber also said she was “one of New Zealand’s greats”.
DETAILS: Tune in to the Black Ferns Youtube channel from midday on July 9 to see the North Under 18 Girls go head-to-head with the South Under 18 Girls.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
