You would think most people would want to put their feet up and take it easy after a Rugby World Cup.
Not Maia Joseph.
‘‘I’ve actually been probably the busiest I’ve ever been in my life,’’ Joseph told the Otago Daily Times.
The 23-year-old returned to her off-field passion earlier this year, heading back to medical school, and has had her head down on placement at Christchurch Public Hospital.
It has been all hands on deck helping Joseph juggle rugby and medicine and she was grateful for the support from the Black Ferns and New Zealand Rugby, alongside the Otago Medical School, in allowing her to chase both her dreams.
‘‘It’s been really cool for me and a really special few months . . . getting to do two things that I love.
‘‘It’s definitely humbled me.
‘‘It’s been good for me to have something else.’’
Becoming a doctor has always been Joseph’s other passion, and with three years of medical school under her belt before gaining her first Black Ferns contract, she is ready to get back to helping her people.
‘‘I also really want to, I guess, make some really positive change for my whanau and for Maori patients in New Zealand, and I guess show that Maori people can be doctors.
‘‘I think just the course and everything about it really aligns with my values. It’s just something I really enjoy.’’
But Joseph’s focus now returns to the rugby field after the Black Ferns flew out this week — she finished her placement the day before they departed — ahead of the Pacific Four series.
The 16-test Black Fern was named in head coach Whitney Hansen’s first squad to play the United States, Canada and Australia this month.
Joseph, who has re-signed with Matatu for three years, has worked closely with Hansen, who took over after Allan Bunting stood down after the World Cup, at the Super Rugby Aupiki franchise in the past two years.
It had been exciting to see Hansen return to the national environment — Hansen was Wayne Smith’s assistant when the Black Ferns won the World Cup in 2022 — and seeing her stamp her mark, Joseph said.
‘‘A really important thing to it is culture and I guess having real care for the team and within the team — and I think that’s been really evident already,’’ Joseph said.
‘‘We’re really close as a team, and there’s lots of new faces coming in post-World Cup . . . but it’s been really cool to see them, I guess, be able to express themselves and be comfortable straight away.
‘‘Whit’s also obviously a really smart coach and she’s very innovative.
‘‘She’s brought a game plan that I think really suits our team. I’m really excited to get to put it on to the field in Pac Four.’’
The Black Ferns are in for a bumper year with the Pacific Four series, tests against the Wallaroos and the Springboks and three tests against France at home already confirmed.
Joseph said it was a credit to New Zealand Rugby backing the women’s game, helping them get more tests.
‘‘Obviously, our Super Rugby competition is incredibly short, so yeah it’s exciting to have, I guess, a bigger test window this year.
‘‘Having Super Rugby in the middle to . . . keep the momentum throughout the year is a cool change.
‘‘I’m just really excited just to get started.’’
Reflecting on the World Cup six months on, Joseph said it was still a bitter pill to swallow.
The Black Ferns headed to England as the defending champions, but fell in the semifinals to Canada and returned home with bronze after beating France in the third-fourth playoff.
‘‘Personally, it’s honestly still quite disappointing.
‘‘For me, it was a big two years leading into that World Cup with, I guess, that one goal of winning it and when it doesn’t go your way, it’s not an easy thing to get over.
‘‘But I think for me now, and I guess for the team as well, it’s what’s next and for us it’s Pac Four.
‘‘It’s a really exciting opportunity to go our there and prove a point as well as developing these new players, and this new game plan that White brought in to lead into that new World Cup cycle.’’
There was still a golden moment for Joseph, however.
Joseph was on the receiving end of a stunning 70m team try in the 81st minute against Ireland in their pool decider.
Her first international try was later named World Rugby try of the year.
‘‘It was definitely a cool moment and an experience that was pretty unforgettable.
‘‘I was the last person on the street of about half our team who touched the ball, so it was definitely a team effort try . . . but experiencing something like that at a World Cup was pretty special for me.’’
The Black Ferns get their season under way against the United States on April 12.
