Rugby community honours legacy of two-time Black Ferns champion Cheryl Waaka

Aotearoa’s rugby community is paying tribute to the life and legacy of two-time Rugby World Cup champion Cheryl Waaka. According to reporting from Waatea News on 12 October 2026, the former Black Fern is being remembered as a trailblazer who not only helped build the foundations of New Zealand women’s rugby but also became a powerful advocate for public health. Waaka, who was Black Fern number 80, was a key figure during an era when women’s rugby received limited public recognition. Despite the lack of professional structures at the time, Waaka and her teammates established Aotearoa as an international force. Former teammate and close friend Louisa Wall shared a deeply personal tribute, describing how their sporting rivalry at the international level pushed both women to excel. Wall, who served as the maid of honour at Waaka’s wedding, noted that Waaka’s determination helped break significant barriers for future generations of female athletes. Beyond her achievements on the field as a player and later as a coach and mentor, Waaka was a champion for change in the health sector. Following a diagnosis of stage four bowel cancer, she used her platform to campaign for earlier screening and increased awareness. She specifically advocated for bowel screening to begin at age 50, a cause particularly significant for Māori communities where equitable access to early diagnosis remains a critical priority. Waaka’s legacy is carried on by her children, Wakaroa and Kahurangi, and the many players she mentored throughout her career. As the rugby community reflects on her passing, she is remembered as a woman whose influence extended far beyond the try line, leaving a lasting impact on both the sport she loved and the health advocacy to which she was dedicated.