Straight Up - Ruby Tui

Ruby learned to rely on herself and her own strengths as a child, growing up without role models in an atmosphere of misery and shame. Her extended family did all they could, but it was sport that was a constant in her childhood and that pulled her through. Her sporting talent helped her fit in as she moved from school to school and community to community. From the age of about eleven Ruby found herself in some very difficult and dangerous situations, and things could have turned out quite differently for her. Fortunately her strength of character and resilience meant that she survived. Not only survived, but managed to make it to university. And it was there that Ruby discovered her love of rugby. From there, her stellar career in rugby took off: she made the Black Ferns Sevens in 2012, won Olympic gold in 2021 and now plays fifteens for the Chiefs and the New Zealand team. Off the field Ruby is a regular commentator for Sky TV and is passionate about promoting healthy environments for Kiwi kids and shining a light on mental health within the sporting community. Creating change through speaking out about public issues, and demonstrating motivation and gratitude to her peers, is how she would like to leave her mark. Ruby is the current ambassador for the HeadFirst initiative.