From heartbreak to ecstasy within 24 hours: Margaret McKenzie can still recall the rollercoaster of emotions 25 years on.
It was September 2000 when the newly named Otago Spirit made it through to the then Women’s National Provincial Championship final.
They went through the combined division phase unbeaten, running away with five victories before edging Waikato 9-8 in the semifinal to qualify for the final.
Making the big trip to Auckland, the Spirit were tenacious in their fight for the title but went down in the dying minutes of the game.
Returning home in the wee hours of the morning after the final, McKenzie’s phone started ringing at 6am with some good news.
The stalwart Otago prop had been named in her inaugural Black Ferns squad.
"That was amazing, because I had been playing for over 20 years," McKenzie told the Otago Daily Times.
"Even just making Otago — it’s an amazing thing."
McKenzie, affectionately known as "Bro", is one of the pioneer players for Otago and remains the team’s most-capped player with 86 games after wrapping up her career in 2006.
She has plenty of tales to tell from the early years in the 1990s — from northern tours and playing her blazer game against Australia at Carisbrook, to the women like Helen Littleworth and the late Sue Garden-Bachop who paved the way — but, as they say, what goes on tour stays on tour.
While Otago officially started a women’s team in 1991, a new era began in 2000 when they ushered in a new name, officially becoming the Otago Spirit.
The Spirit celebrate 25 years this season — Otago rugby is hosting a reunion this weekend — and it is a special time to reflect on women’s rugby in the region.
But where did the name come from?
"I was on the committee for that. We put it out there for the schools and they picked it.
"We had something like three or four names that were picked and then we all voted for Spirit."
McKenzie, who played 206 games for Pirates and earned five caps for the Black Ferns in 2000 and 2005, was part of some formidable Spirit teams in the early 2000s.
They were packed with hard-working talent, including Black Ferns Farah Palmer — after whom the national competition is now named — Hannah Porter (nee Myers) and Claire Richardson.
"The good thing about that was we got lots of students that came into Otago.
"We got really good talent, so it was really strong.
"Now that they’ve got regional development officers in the area, they are schooling up the school kids. It’s getting local people."
There have been plenty of other internationals in the years since: Carla Hohepa, Kathleen Wilton, Kelly Brazier — who McKenzie coached for Otago secondary schools — and Maia Joseph. The latter two are now at the Rugby World Cup in England.
Memories of games come and go and winning accolades is always nice, but it is the connections that matter most.
"I’ve got so many friends from rugby it’s unbelievable," McKenzie said.
"It’s the friendships that you make and the travelling around.
"We weren’t professional ... people paid their own way. We weren’t in flash places and stuff, but it was all about coming together as a team, a big family.
"There was no such thing as rehab the next day. We had really good nights out. We all looked after each other.
"That’s what makes teams sometimes, those nights, you know."
WOMEN’S rugby has made big strides through the past 25 years and the Spirit are riding that wave.
They have predominantly played in the Farah Palmer Cup Championship, but beat Hawke’s Bay 24-20 in 2019 to be elevated to the top-tier Premiership.
The Spirit slipped back to the Championship in 2022, where they have been one of the in-form teams and are unbeaten this season.
The Spirit are packed with talented players — hailing from Dunedin to Kurow, Waikouaiti to South Otago — and some of them make four hour round trips just to make it to training.
It shows the pride players have for the jersey.
"They’ve got players that have been around for two or three years. If those players stay in Otago it’s [positive]," McKenzie said.
"They do it for the love of the game and that’s what makes it so much better, because they appreciate it."
While there is still a long way to go, McKenzie was proud to see the growth in the women’s game.
"The difference ... is just amazing.
"Even when I was in the Black Ferns in 2000 and 2005, the difference from those five years was huge."
Three years ago, McKenzie watched the Black Ferns create history as they packed out stadiums at the World Cup on home soil. She joined a large crop of former Black Ferns for a reunion watching the new generation’s opening games.
"All us Otago girls got together. We had the best weekend — it was so good."
Now she is on the other side of the world and watched the Black Ferns play Spain last week as they got their World Cup defence under way in England.
"It was awesome feeling to be over here."
If there is one thing that has remained the same through the past 25 years, it is the love people have for the Spirit.
"We’ve always done it for the passion of the game. We love the game."
■ TOMORROW: OTAGO’S CURRENT BLACK FERNS
