Wratt-Groeneweg thriving in Farah Palmer Cup environment

Last year, an injury the day before the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) squad announcement meant Holly Wratt-Groeneweg spent the season on the sidelines. This year, she is ready and raring to go as a part of Canterbury’s strong loose forwards group.

Playing for University of Canterbury Viperettes in the Women’s Premier final against Christchurch, Wratt-Groeneweg vividly remembers the moment when her 2022 FPC dreams were swiped away.

Refusing to believe anything was wrong, Wratt-Groeneweg told the physio she was fine and attempted to run back to her team. Not getting far, she was assisted off the field and watched the remainder of the game in tears, knowing her torn MCL was going to interrupt her chances of playing for Canterbury’s FPC team that season, “everything I had worked for, had been taken away in that moment” says Wratt-Groeneweg.

The 2022 injury put things into perspective for Wratt-Groeneweg, who says “it made me come back hungry and rugby is just my passion.”

Debuting against Wellington this year was described as “surreal” by Wratt-Groeneweg and says “you’re not fully immersed when you’re injured on the sideline, but being out there and being able to play is just so awesome.”

Training and playing alongside Black Ferns in the Canterbury squad has been a learning experience for Wratt-Groeneweg, explaining the women are providing a lot of growth and knowledge to the younger players like herself, “it brings the team up to a whole new level.”

As a child, Wratt-Groeneweg considered leaving rugby and going back to the soccer field. A very intuitive friend threatened their friendship if she did, so she continued into U9 tackle grade. When asking Wratt-Groeneweg if we can partly credit this friendship to her career “he’d probably like to think so!” she replied laughing.

Transferring to CGHS to have better opportunities with rugby, Wratt-Groeneweg credits her parents for allowing her to make that move and board at the school for two and a half years. Wratt-Groeneweg captained the U19 Canterbury Black team in 2021 and was named a joint recepient of the U19 Womens Player of the Year. She is currently studying Sports Management remotely through Massey University, preparing for a career that could come a long time after playing rugby, with a promising career ahead for Wratt-Groeneweg.