Shannon Willoughby

Shannon Willoughby
Date of birth (1982-01-15) 15 January 1982 (age 42)
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight80 kg (180 lb; 12 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2000–2006 Otago (0)
2008 Hawke's Bay 6 (0)
2015–2016 Auckland 15 (10)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2008  New Zealand 9 (0)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's rugby union
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2006 Canada Team competition

Shannon Willoughby (born 15 January 1982) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. She played for New Zealand internationally and at provincial level for Hawke's Bay. She previously captained Otago.

Rugby career

On 29 June 2005, Willoughby made her test debut for the Black Ferns against Scotland at the Canada Cup in Ottawa.[1][2] She also featured in the two games against Canada in the competition.[3][4][5]

Willoughby was member of the Black Ferns squad that won the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup.[6][7][8] She appeared in all of the matches at the tournament.

She played her last international against the Wallaroos on 18 October 2008 at Canberra, it was the final match of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[9]

In 2015, she returned to playing rugby and played her final game for Auckland on World Stroke Day.[10]

Personal life

Willoughby was instructed by Matthew Greenslade when she obtained her commercial pilots' license from Ardmore Flying School in 2011.

She suffered a stroke at the age of 32.[7][11] She discovered the benefits of aromatherapy diffusers and essential oils, then founding Aromarrr NZ.[12] In 2023, after expanding the product range, She launched Seven Scents, selling home fragrance and skincare.[13]

In 2015, she received her aviation medical back, after being told she would likely never fly again.[10] A 2017 International Women’s Forum (IWF) Global Women Athletes' Business Network member, Willoughby is now part of the IWF NZ Founding Committee.

References

  1. ^ "Seven new players for Black Ferns". NZ Herald. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ Bailey, Jane (2005). "New Zealand Rugby Museum - June 29 - 2005 Black Ferns start Canada Cup with a win". www.rugbymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Black Ferns vs Canada (Game 1)". stats.allblacks.com. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Black Ferns looking for another cup in Canada". NZ Herald. 8 July 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Black Ferns vs Canada (Game 2)". stats.allblacks.com. 8 July 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  6. ^ NZ Herald (26 July 2006). "Black Ferns World Cup squad named". Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b Warhurst, Lucy (4 June 2017). "Former Black Fern Shannon Willoughby opens up about stroke". Newshub. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Shannon's running for a good cause". NZ Herald. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Black Ferns vs Australia". stats.allblacks.com. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b McFadden, Suzanne (27 October 2021). "The two-year search for elusive Black Ferns". Newsroom. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Back in the game | Shannon's story". www.stroke.org.nz. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Our Story | Aromarrr NZ". www.aromarrr.co.nz. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Our Story | Seven Scents". www.sevenscents.co.nz. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
Stub icon

This biographical article relating to New Zealand rugby union, about a person born in the 1980s, is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.