"Everyone can be team first when it's easy, Tui says. I think it is a cool opportunity for me to say I totally love and respect this team, which I absolutely and wholeheartedly do. I support everything. I am gunning for my team. I want players who are struggling with selection to see that and know you do get to a point where you are OK with it."
"I have played for New Zealand since 2012 and I have won a World Cup, I have won an Olympics, I feel like it could have been a lot harder for other people. I am not the only one who didn't make the team, I felt like there was a lot of hype around me but that doesn't [mean it] hurt any less or any more."
Ruby Tui missed selection for New Zealand's Rugby World Cup squad despite a decorated career that includes the 2022 World Cup, Olympic medals, and a Sevens World Cup title. Fierce competition in the back three saw Ayesha Leti-I'iga and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe selected ahead of her. Tui adopts a team-first stance, pledges wholehearted support for the Black Ferns, and hopes to model resilience for younger players facing selection setbacks. She acknowledges the emotional difficulty of omission while noting many others experienced similar disappointment. Tui has secured media roles for the tournament, including a BBC pundit role.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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