Straight Up

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Ruby Tui with the Rugby World Cup - won in an extra-tense final against England. Photo / Hannah Peters, Getty Images Yeah, the Russians are cool people, man. They are a bloody tough, tough team. They weren’t at the last Olympics, so this is huge for them. Massive congratulations to Russia,” Tui said. As a child, Ruby was exposed to a lot of drug and alcohol abuse and later had a period of "chaotic lubrication" herself. Straight Up blows the stereotypical rugby biography out the door. It is the first ever written by a female professional rugby player.

She also points to WXV, which aims to give more women’s teams Test opportunities, as a marker of progress. “I was very excited at the concept, the fact that it’s not the top nations who get to jam and have this competition. It’s a real blessing for our sport.” What happens to us, especially what happens to us as children, doesn't need to define who we are as adults. And it's never too late to look into these things that happened to us. Congratulations again on the gold. There’s probably no greater pressure in sport than representing New Zealand in rugby. What was the feeling like when you won the gold?” asked McDonald.

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The book begins where everyone begins: with childhood and the profound ways that our early years shape who we are. Tui’s early life shifts between her large and loving Sāmoan family (on her dad’s side) and her more isolated palagi one (her mum’s). That she was loved is a fact often affirmed: Tui’s perspective throughout the book is frank and without blame, without bitterness or even regret. Very gently, with a tone of patience and an acceptance that becomes the undercurrent of the entire book, Tui describes a childhood made unstable by alcoholism, drug abuse and psychological and physical violence. Even though things weren’t perfect when I was little, I love both my mum and my dad dearly. They are such different people, and for a little while I was a bit sour at them for various reasons. But then I grew up a bit, I worked on my empathy and now I am just so thankful to both of them. Ruby on her 18th birthday with her Mum. Sometimes a cliche but mostly an inspiration. We are going to give tis book away to young people doing the Award in our Christmas giveaways. Tui herself is puzzled by some of the reactions she receives. “I find [it] a bit strange, don’t you? I feel like I’m just chatting. It goes viral, which is weird. It is what it is.” And so therefore, I do feel a responsibility that the next choice I make is in support of people who see that and understand that.”

Until just before this book was published, most people didn't know the truth of Ruby's childhood. I'll leave it for you to discover in this book - other than at the end there is just the slightest tinge of bitterness when she says;

WHAT'S HAPPENING

I think it’s being in tune with yourself, looking after your mental health, and asking yourself honest questions every day and not being afraid to do that.” So it actually brought my mum and me closer, because she realised she was literally my real-life hero growing up.” So Lesh took me to Glassons and bought me a top — a white, fleecy top and a matching white belt. Matching! I felt so cool. I looked real funky.

I cried a lot while reading this book, but there’s a passage early on in Straight Up about reading and the value of books, that gets me every time: “Every single night [Mum] buried herself in a book when she got into bed, and it made me look up to reading, and that’s the reason I am still a reader. I got Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone one Christmas, and it was just the best to have my very own novel to read.” I can imagine many a lonely child, adults too, thinking of Tui’s’ book in the same way. What a gift.That day with Lesh, it still stands as one of the best days of my whole life — like God had heard me and gifted me this new best friend. She was connecting with Dad for the first time, so suddenly she was like an addition to my life with Dad. People are always asking me why are you guys so hard out at training? When I'm in a team I'm all in. I cannot play in a team where I don't want to die for my sisters next to me." In Straight Up, Ruby writes about finally releasing the shame she carried for years after that night. Hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup is an extremely special opportunity for New Zealand, Ruby says.

A theme that constantly arises with Tui is her purpose. She feels a deep sense of responsibility – in life, relationships, rugby and commercial partnerships. One fan posted on social media: “Men’s rugby can learn a lot from Ruby Tui. Her enthusiasm and originality is f***ing infectious … legend.”In what has to be one of the most dramatic World Cup finals of all time, the Red Roses went down to 14 players when Lydia Thompson was shown a red card in the 18th minute and led for most of the game. Tui’s endearing interviews and authenticity have been welcomed by those who say rugby is bereft of characters and charisma. She has already captured the attention of millions of new fans around the world, and we can’t wait for her to join our efforts to build the game in the US.”