Rugby: English visitor enjoys time in NZ

Hollie Fraser is in Dunedin for the Otago Spirit season. Photo by Gerard O'Brien
Hollie Fraser is in Dunedin for the Otago Spirit season. Photo by Gerard O'Brien
Hollie Fraser is loving her time in New Zealand.

As a rugby player, that is not surprising.

Players love scoring tries and Fraser is more than adept at doing that.

In one game, she scored nine tries. In the final club game of the season, she helped herself to 10 tries.

Not bad work if you can get it.

Fraser (22) is one of two English imports who played for the new North Otago women's club side this season.

The centre has decided to stay on for the Otago Spirit season, while her English team-mate, Kelly Robertson, who played second five-eighth, has headed home.

Fraser said she had loved her time in New Zealand and was enjoying the rugby.

''The rugby here is brilliant. It makes a big difference that the girls have been playing since they were at high school,'' she said.

''That helps with the skills and stuff. Back home, if you want to play rugby then you've got to go out of your way to play it. Hardly anyone ever played it at school.

''My mum wouldn't let me play it. I used to get injured all the time playing football. Then I went to university and the girls in the football team and the rugby team were all good friends.

''So I ended up playing a game of rugby but I broke my collarbone. My mum couldn't believe it when I told her.''

The injury did not deter her and she has continued to play the game.

Fraser said rugby in New Zealand was quicker and there was a lot more open play than in England, where it was more forwards-dominated.

She said the North Otago team had been really welcoming, as had the Otago players, and she was looking forward to the representative season.

The Spirit starts its season against Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow.

Fraser and Robertson are from the Olney club in Bedford, Northampton, which has a player exchange arrangement with North Otago.

That had existed for male players for a few years and with North Otago setting up a team for women this year, it was extended to include female players.

The two women had worked in a hotel in Oamaru, and while in Dunedin, Fraser was working at a supermarket and a car cleaning company.

She had jumped at the chance to get some overseas experience and was looking forward to the Spirit campaign.

She graduated from university with a degree in sports science and personal training and had designs on being an officer in the Royal Air Force.

But a problem with migraines had led to her changing focus.

She has a job waiting for her as a prison officer at a youth offenders facility when she returns to England at the end of October.

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