May 23, 2025 • 7 mins
Not many can say they have captained their country in three different sports but one who can is Melissa Ruscoe who last night was awarded a Legend of Canterbury sport at the annual Canterbury Sports Awards.
Ruscoe who led the football, rugby and rugby sevens team during her playing career is now sharing her knowledge as a coach and teacher at Christchurch's Hillmorton High School spoke with Lesley Mudoch about her award.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To gala event at the Air Force Museum out at
Wigram last night the Sport Canterbury Awards and inducted into
the Sport Canterbury Legends was Melissa Rusco and she joins
us on the program. Good morning, really, how have you
scrubbed up this morning? Yea, yeah, look what we need
to If people didn't already know, and I'm sure they do,
(00:22):
but it is truly an amazing feat for a player,
and it's just sadness that it's taken so long for
the recognition and the profile, the deserved profile. But football
Fern Black Fern, New Zealand sevens and you've captain all
three and it's just that leadership, that mana that exudes
(00:43):
from you. You're now, of course doing great work at
Hilmoorton High School. But congratulations legend of Sport Canterbury. How
did the did you? How were you surprised when you
turned up?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
So totally surprised. I had no idea, never, no, never
was never anything I saw of and had no idea
where he walked in last night. I thought we were
going to Friends six here. I thought we were in
the wrong place. Yeah, and it wasn't until well I
knew something was up when I saw my dad and
my two sisters and and it down and a few
(01:14):
other friends. So I thought something's up here, but you
still couldn't figure it out until until we've walked through
to the to the event.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So that'd come down from the Taranaki.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, yes, that'd come down, which it was pretty huge.
I was kind of planning to head back shortly, so yeah,
for the year of year past of mum passing. So yeah,
it was really quite emotional.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Actually, yeah, absolutely, because I know that she was such
a big part of your life.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yes, you're very much here and Dad, yere fol three
of us.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
So yeah, it's great to meet your sisters and and
see your your daughter Lucia, and your your partner Audrey.
It was just great to have them all there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, it was. And sometimes when you are playing away
you don't get all those opportunities for everyone to be there,
so yeah, it was really special for them and it's
just one of those little things of giving back to
them as well. So yeah, that award is just as
much there as and everyone else that coached and managed
(02:16):
and yeah, supported myself and the teams that I've been
in through throughout my time. So yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Pretty amazing when you think you debuted for the Football
Ferns when you were sixteen. At twenty four you change
codes and went into rugby and it didn't take long.
It was two thousand and two. It didn't take long
for you to gain higher honors Canterby two thousand and
three and a Black Fern in two thousand and four
and New Zealand Rugby Union Player of the Year in
(02:45):
two thousand and five, and then of course World Cup
glory as well. Two World Cups under your belt, one
of them is a captain. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, when you look back and people bring those things up,
it's an impressive list. But it was, yeah, just really
humbling to to have the privilege and the opportunity to
be in those teams and represent my country and my
Fino and yeah, so you know, you never go into
these sorts of things expecting accolades from that, and yeah,
(03:16):
that one last night really, yeah, really was a huge
humbling experience. So thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
And when you think about the Black Funds are taking
on USA today and that match against Canada last week,
that you are part of that very important heritage for
where they are now and when you see the way
they play, can you believe the changes from when you
played to now?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, I mean there's some there's there's some obvious changes,
and then there's other things that are that are the same.
And having the privilege to go into the camp last
week and present the jerseys, that's that. Yeah, it's that
culture and that pride that we will have in the
in the black jersey. And you always look back at
at those that have come before and to be there
(04:03):
and present jerseys. I can remember being in the same
same position as them and having ex players come back
and present thinking oh man, it's so amazing. But again
you never think it's something that you'd end up doing.
So yeah, another another amazing opportunity and a huge privilege
to have been in there last week.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
What did what did you make of that Canadian match?
And maybe what are you expecting against you with say.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I think I'm expecting a expecting a win as they
will be and and yeah, I think it was a tough,
fought out game last week. They did really well to
keep that keep the ball, keep possession and score to
create a draw there. You know, I said to them
(04:49):
it was one of those it's just a stepping stone
to the World Cup now, so whatever results happened between now,
it's all it's all progress and a step towards the
World Cups. So this will be another another step for
them today and they'll be showing a different strategy, different
game plan against USA, and I'm sure pretty basic game
(05:11):
when you comes down to it, hold them to the ball,
create pressure and should be able to score. So I'm
sure they'll be doing that.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I'm sure they'll be up for it. That's no
doubt about that. So you know, for yourself, though you've
finished your playing career, you've gone into coaching, part of
a very successful coaching unit for candorban Fara Palmer Cup
twenty seventeen onwards. And now you're coach of the first
fifteen I think at Helmorton High, right.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yes, yeah, it can everything amazing union and supporting me
and other there's players, and yeah, part part of that
whole thing is giving back and so yeah, I worked
with an amazing management crew there, got some awesome experience
and learned a lot from everyone that we work with.
(05:56):
And then they're now that's coaching our boys, her sustain
and we're you've got our third game thood game today,
so yeah, we're we're doing all right. There's just an
opportunity for boys to reach and play at that level
as high as they can. We've got a combined team
with Hornby Recording and Middleton Grange, so it just creates
(06:20):
another opportunity for players because those boys wouldn't have been
able to play at that level as the individual school.
So yeah, fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
You just want them to play, don't you. In the
giving I just.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Wanted to play one hundred percent, and they want to
play and they want to play with their mates, and
so yeah, it's great that we can we can give
that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Good stuff. Look, I know you've got to get your
daughter to football, so we'll let you go. But just
wanted to congratulate you and recognize your amazing prowess and
what you've done in the sporting career and good luck
to your boys team and we'll watch with them just
where you go from here.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Thanks so much us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Thank you, Melissa Rusco. Yes Triple New Zealand rip for
more from News Talks at b listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
To gala event at the Air Force Museum out at
Wigram last night the Sport Canterbury Awards and inducted into
the Sport Canterbury Legends was Melissa Rusco and she joins
us on the program. Good morning, really, how have you
scrubbed up this morning? Yea, yeah, look what we need
to If people didn't already know, and I'm sure they do,
(00:22):
but it is truly an amazing feat for a player,
and it's just sadness that it's taken so long for
the recognition and the profile, the deserved profile. But football
Fern Black Fern, New Zealand sevens and you've captain all
three and it's just that leadership, that mana that exudes
(00:43):
from you. You're now, of course doing great work at
Hilmoorton High School. But congratulations legend of Sport Canterbury. How
did the did you? How were you surprised when you
turned up?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
So totally surprised. I had no idea, never, no, never
was never anything I saw of and had no idea
where he walked in last night. I thought we were
going to Friends six here. I thought we were in
the wrong place. Yeah, and it wasn't until well I
knew something was up when I saw my dad and
my two sisters and and it down and a few
(01:14):
other friends. So I thought something's up here, but you
still couldn't figure it out until until we've walked through
to the to the event.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So that'd come down from the Taranaki.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, yes, that'd come down, which it was pretty huge.
I was kind of planning to head back shortly, so yeah,
for the year of year past of mum passing. So yeah,
it was really quite emotional.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Actually, yeah, absolutely, because I know that she was such
a big part of your life.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yes, you're very much here and Dad, yere fol three
of us.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
So yeah, it's great to meet your sisters and and
see your your daughter Lucia, and your your partner Audrey.
It was just great to have them all there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, it was. And sometimes when you are playing away
you don't get all those opportunities for everyone to be there,
so yeah, it was really special for them and it's
just one of those little things of giving back to
them as well. So yeah, that award is just as
much there as and everyone else that coached and managed
(02:16):
and yeah, supported myself and the teams that I've been
in through throughout my time. So yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Pretty amazing when you think you debuted for the Football
Ferns when you were sixteen. At twenty four you change
codes and went into rugby and it didn't take long.
It was two thousand and two. It didn't take long
for you to gain higher honors Canterby two thousand and
three and a Black Fern in two thousand and four
and New Zealand Rugby Union Player of the Year in
(02:45):
two thousand and five, and then of course World Cup
glory as well. Two World Cups under your belt, one
of them is a captain. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah, when you look back and people bring those things up,
it's an impressive list. But it was, yeah, just really
humbling to to have the privilege and the opportunity to
be in those teams and represent my country and my
Fino and yeah, so you know, you never go into
these sorts of things expecting accolades from that, and yeah,
(03:16):
that one last night really, yeah, really was a huge
humbling experience. So thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
And when you think about the Black Funds are taking
on USA today and that match against Canada last week,
that you are part of that very important heritage for
where they are now and when you see the way
they play, can you believe the changes from when you
played to now?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, I mean there's some there's there's some obvious changes,
and then there's other things that are that are the same.
And having the privilege to go into the camp last
week and present the jerseys, that's that. Yeah, it's that
culture and that pride that we will have in the
in the black jersey. And you always look back at
at those that have come before and to be there
(04:03):
and present jerseys. I can remember being in the same
same position as them and having ex players come back
and present thinking oh man, it's so amazing. But again
you never think it's something that you'd end up doing.
So yeah, another another amazing opportunity and a huge privilege
to have been in there last week.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
What did what did you make of that Canadian match?
And maybe what are you expecting against you with say.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I think I'm expecting a expecting a win as they
will be and and yeah, I think it was a tough,
fought out game last week. They did really well to
keep that keep the ball, keep possession and score to
create a draw there. You know, I said to them
(04:49):
it was one of those it's just a stepping stone
to the World Cup now, so whatever results happened between now,
it's all it's all progress and a step towards the
World Cups. So this will be another another step for
them today and they'll be showing a different strategy, different
game plan against USA, and I'm sure pretty basic game
(05:11):
when you comes down to it, hold them to the ball,
create pressure and should be able to score. So I'm
sure they'll be doing that.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I'm sure they'll be up for it. That's no
doubt about that. So you know, for yourself, though you've
finished your playing career, you've gone into coaching, part of
a very successful coaching unit for candorban Fara Palmer Cup
twenty seventeen onwards. And now you're coach of the first
fifteen I think at Helmorton High, right.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yes, yeah, it can everything amazing union and supporting me
and other there's players, and yeah, part part of that
whole thing is giving back and so yeah, I worked
with an amazing management crew there, got some awesome experience
and learned a lot from everyone that we work with.
(05:56):
And then they're now that's coaching our boys, her sustain
and we're you've got our third game thood game today,
so yeah, we're we're doing all right. There's just an
opportunity for boys to reach and play at that level
as high as they can. We've got a combined team
with Hornby Recording and Middleton Grange, so it just creates
(06:20):
another opportunity for players because those boys wouldn't have been
able to play at that level as the individual school.
So yeah, fantastic.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
You just want them to play, don't you. In the
giving I just.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Wanted to play one hundred percent, and they want to
play and they want to play with their mates, and
so yeah, it's great that we can we can give
that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Good stuff. Look, I know you've got to get your
daughter to football, so we'll let you go. But just
wanted to congratulate you and recognize your amazing prowess and
what you've done in the sporting career and good luck
to your boys team and we'll watch with them just
where you go from here.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Thanks so much us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Thank you, Melissa Rusco. Yes Triple New Zealand rip for
more from News Talks at b listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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