Cheryl Smith (rugby union)

Cheryl Moana Smith MNZM (née Waaka; born 12 May 1970) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and administrator and former player. She represented New Zealand and Auckland as a flanker or number 8.

Cheryl Smith

MNZM

Smith in 2023
Birth name	Cheryl Moana Waaka
Date of birth	(1970-05-12) 12 May 1970 (age 53)
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Auckland () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1997 New Zealand
Medal record Representing  New Zealand Women's rugby union Rugby World Cup 1998 Netherlands Team competition 2002 Spain Team competition

Waaka made her international debut on 13 August 1997 against England at Burnham. She was part of the team that won the 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cup's.^[1]

In 2005, Waaka became the first woman in Northland to coach a senior men's club rugby team.^[2]

In the 2023 New Year Honours, Smith was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.^[3]

References

1. BBC Sport (25 May 2002). "Black Ferns too strong for England". Retrieved 9 July 2014.
2. Tim Eves (The Northern Advocate) NZ Herald (9 June 2005). "Cheryl passes on her rugby knowledge to men's team". Retrieved 9 July 2014.
3. "New Year honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

External links

• Black Ferns Profile