Their decision to help a teenage girl has come at a time when Child, Youth and Family (CYF) is desperately seeking carers to house and help children in Otago.
More than 20 children and teenagers require urgent placement in homes to remove them from situations which can at times be dangerous and unpredictable, or just unsuitable.
CYF professional services team leader Annette Direen, of Dunedin, said the agency was constantly looking for carers, but there was a "desperate" shortage.
This could be because many people were choosing to return to work, either for financial or career reasons.
Teenagers needing foster care were often viewed as a difficult group, but this was not always the case, she said.
Ms Goddard and Mr Setephano (both 24) moved from Hamilton this year in order to follow Mr Setephano's dream of becoming a starting player in a Super 14 team.
After seeing a newspaper advertisement seeking a carer for a young boy who was homeless, they decided to inquire about foster care.
CYF decided the couple would make ideal emergency or respite carers.
The couple believed their lives were well-balanced enough for a young person to see them as role models.
Setephano, who plays for Otago and the Highlanders, said learning to balance rugby with life required dedication.
While Ms Goddard, who started her own fashion styling business, said learning to build networks and stay afloat required a different kind of dedication.
Despite that, the couple conceded they did not know what they were getting themselves into with foster care and, because of their age, they had sometimes doubted their skills to deal with a teenager.
"But we just look at it that we were teenagers not so long ago, so we know some of the things they are going through and can relate."
Ultimately, they wanted to be able to see a young person they had helped succeeding down the track, and encouraged others to become involved.
Mrs Direen said when choosing carers, CYF did not discriminate on the grounds of sexuality, race or disability.
A concentrated campaign to attract carers had some success this year, but there was still a need.
The death of a man who had, in his lifetime, cared for hundreds of disadvantaged children had left a huge hole, she said.
Those interested in becoming a foster carer should contact their local Child, Youth and Family office.
