ALL BLACKS STAR EMONI 'MY GIRLS GET ME THROUGH'

The rugby hero reveals how his newborn daughter Nyla is healing his heart after a devastating injury

- Jo Bailey

As All Blacks star Emoni Narawa cradles his gorgeous baby daughter Nyla, he can’t believe the rollercoaster he and his longtime partner Danielle Rihia have experienced during the three months since she was born.

Nyla’s arrival on Monday 4 August marked the end of a magical 24 hours, which Emoni describes as “one of the best days of my life”, where he played his 50th NPC match for Bay of Plenty, was named in the All Blacks squad for their tour of Argentina and welcomed his second daughter.

Then a few weeks later, the highs hit crashing lows, when a season-ending injury in the Springboks test at Eden Park shattered Emoni’s All Blacks dream. This was the second time he’s had to bounce back from a big disappointment, after a serious injury ruled him out of 2023’s Rugby World Cup.

“Rugby can be a cruel game,” reflects Emoni. “No matter how much you love it, sometimes it doesn’t love you back. It’s been a bit tough mentally, but it’s just another hiccup on the road. Dani and the girls keep me going. I’m so lucky to wake up with them every morning.”

The couple, who are both 26, have been together since they were 19, so Danielle understands the ups and downs of top-level sport, even scheduling Nyla’s birth around the All Blacks announcement.

Danielle says, “We planned the induction for the same day the team was announced, as we knew if Emoni was selected, he’d have at least a couple of days to meet Nyla before he left.”

During her labour, Danielle had a sudden, unexpected craving for Hubba Bubba bubble gum and sent Emoni off on a mission to find some.

“The hospital shop didn’t have any, so Emoni went to a nearby dairy,” she smiles. “For me to suggest he leave the hospital while I was having contractions shows how badly I wanted it!”

While he was away, Danielle checked the All Blacks’ Instagram page to find Emoni had been named in the squad.