Sene Naoupu has announced her retirement from the international game after 48 appearances in the green jersey.
The effervescent 38-year-old moved to Ireland with her husband, former Highlanders loose forward George Naoupu, in 2009.
"It is surreal," she said in a statement yesterday.
"I had the privilege of moving to Ireland as a supportive rugby wife and I never expected years later to be a rugby international.
"I drove to Dublin from Galway three times a week every week just to go to training. To finally achieve my first cap in 15s in Florence and then the same year to achieve my sevens cap, I wouldn’t have got there if I didn’t have that drive.
"You would want to be a good person before the player. I would want to be remembered as someone who never gave up.
"It was never too late to achieve the dream. I moved over to Ireland as a rugby wife but I knew I wasn’t done [playing] but I wasn’t guaranteed to make it."
Naoupu (nee Fanene) grew up in Oamaru and cut her rugby teeth with Otago University and the Spirit.
The midfielder dreamed of being a Black Fern but switched her allegiance after moving to Ireland.
She made her test debut in 2015, winning the Six Nations with Ireland, was named Rugby Writers Player of the Year and the Rugby Players Ireland Player of the Year in 2016, and played at the 2017 World Cup.
Naoupu, whose last test was against Scotland in the Six Nations earlier this year, also got to captain Ireland at Twickenham in 2018.
"Unfortunately, it was because our captain [Ciara Griffin] was injured so I stepped in. It’s probably one of my favourite games to date.
"We didn’t win it but the way we came together and the opportunity I had to remind the girls before the game that world-class athleticism was in our DNA, we had what it takes to play against the best ... that game confirmed that.
"I was going to hold on and try to earn two more for the 50 [cap milestone] but I would have done it for the wrong reasons. That’s why I’m at peace to go now.
"Like the other girls, I’ve dedicated my heart and soul to serve the team in the green jersey and I consider it a privilege that I get to retire on my own terms."
Naoupu, who has previously spoken about her battle with anorexia as a young woman, has become an influential figure in her sport.
She has been a prominent voice for the progress of women’s rugby, in particular.
An appointment to World Rugby’s women’s advisory committee last year was followed by her being named head of strategic projects and research for the International Rugby Players group.
If that is not enough, Naoupu has also been a director for BodyWhys, a charity established to help people with eating disorders, and has been undertaking doctorate research at Dublin City University.
