Kate Henwood

BIOGRAPHY

Black Fern #245 

When Kate Henwood debuted for the Black Ferns in a 50-0 win against Australia aged 34 years and 152 days old in July 2023, she joked she was old enough to have been second five Sylvia Brunt's mum. 

Henwood had all but abandoned her dream of becoming a Black Fern until one day at work as a management accountant in Whakatāne her phone rang. It was Allan Bunting, the new Black Ferns coach, offering her a full-time contract and the chance to live and train as a professional rugby player for the first time.

She was “shocked” but resigned from her job at Control Tech Ltd, an electrical engineering company to become the fourth oldest Black Fern. Her story will become less common as women’s rugby increases its professionalism.

“My debut was surreal, like a dream, ‘what am I doing here?’ I was both relieved and delighted to get through it,” she said.

“In my second Test against Canada, I felt more confident, settled in my role, and connected with my teammates. We had to go to work. Canada was a tough side. It was cool to be involved in the Black Ferns 100th Test win.”

Henwood grew up in Opotiki. One of five siblings, with four rugby-playing brothers including former Chiefs, Hurricanes and Māori All Blacks loose forward Sam Henwood, Kate first played rugby with a boys’ under 11 team in Opotiki.

Fortunately, the local high school and club scene was vibrant enough to keep Henwood involved in her college years. A relationship she formed with a former Black Fern would leave an indelible impression.

“Exia Shelford is a big role model in my life. She took us for Sevens one year coaching us all day in the hot sun. Afterwards, we were lying around and there was Exia doing laps around the field. I played netball with and against her. She was a machine.”

Bay of Plenty rugby wasn't as robust. Local competition effectively collapsed in 2006 when the province was unable to field a team in the NPC.

“After college I didn't play rugby again until I was 24. Things started to pick up again in 2012 when the Go For Gold Sevens programs started. In 2014 Bay of Plenty came back. Seeing the improvement and growth of rugby in the area has been awesome.

Henwood has been an integral part of the resurgence. She has played 28 games for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix, including the 2017 Championship final where a solitary Sapphire Tapsell try was enough to foil Otago 7-5 and win promotion to the Premiership. Two victories over Auckland the following year were an even greater achievement.

“I was in the team that lost to Auckland 101-0 in 2015. The Storm had a dozen Black Ferns. Three years later we beat them 34-29 at Eden Park. That win is right up there as the best moment of my life.”

Fellow Black Fern Renee Woodman-Wickliffe scored 19 points in the famous victory and then Bay of Plenty beat Auckland again 25-22 in a promotion/regulation match.

To help keep the local club competition afloat Henwood has played for Aratiki, Waikite, Rangataua and Opotiki. She says winning a club championship is among her career highlights.

Until 2022 she had never played loosehead prop, alternating between lock and flanker. She immediately blossomed, earning a Super Rugby Aupiki contract. In 2023 she helped Chiefs Manawa make the final, beating every team enroute to the decider. She repeated that feat in 2024.

Henwood helped the Black Ferns successfully defend the Laurie O’Reilly Trophy and Pacific Four Series titles on her first tour.

She retained her place for the inaugural World XV1 series and featured in the record 70-7 win over Wales and the 35-12 loss to England in Auckland. 

“England came for revenge after the World Cup last year. They played with a real edge and passion that we were unable to match. That was the big difference.”

Since becoming a Black Fern, Henwood jokes, she's passed her brother Sam as the “golden child” while her oldest daughter Stella is a wide-eyed rugby fan.

“Stella started getting excited when I was around the Volcanix. She thought she'd get to go on an aeroplane because I did. There was a home game that she came to, and we were signing autographs. She started thinking, ‘this is a big deal’. Then, at the Chiefs, she was saying 'is that Black Fern in your team, mum'. She thinks they're really cool. Not mum, though.”

Profile by Adam Julian.