Theresa Fitzpatrick

Theresa Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick in 2017
Full nameTheresa Matauaina Fitzpatrick
Date of birth (1995-02-25) 25 February 1995 (age 29)
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Notable relative(s)Sulu Fitzpatrick (sister)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 Blues Women 2 (0)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–Present New Zealand 18 (30)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2016–Present New Zealand 139 (90 pts)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's rugby union
Women's Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ireland Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2021 New Zealand Team competition
Women's rugby sevens
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Team competition
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team competition
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham Team competition
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Gold medal – first place 2018 San Francisco Team competition

Theresa Matauaina Setefano (née Fitzpatrick; born 25 February 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was a member of the Black Ferns champion 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup squads. She has also represented New Zealand in rugby sevens; she won gold medals at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She played for the Blues Women in the 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Since her marriage in December 2023 she has used the surname, Setefano.

Early life

Theresa Matauaina Fitzpatrick was born on 25 February 1995 to Greg and Faalogo Rosemary Fitzpatrick.[1]

Rugby career

2016

Fitzpatrick represents New Zealand in rugby sevens. She made her sevens debut at the 2016 USA Women's Sevens.[2][3] She was named in the sevens squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[4][5]

2017–2020

Fitzpatrick was named in the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squad[6][7] and was part of the winning team of the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series.[8]

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

In July 2021, she was a member of the New Zealand team that won the gold medal in the women's event at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[9][10]

On 3 November 2021, She was named in the Blues squad for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition.[11][12]

2022

Fitzpatrick was named in the Blues starting line up for their first game against Matatū, they won 21–10.[13][14] She also started in their 0–35 thrashing by the Chiefs Manawa in the final round.[15][16]

Fitzpatrick was named in the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[17][18] She won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.[19][20]

In August 2022, she was selected in Black Ferns XV's team for the test series against Australia for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.[21][22] She made the Black Ferns 32-player squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.[23][24] She scored a try in the second pool game against Wales.[25][26] Her second try came in the final pool game against Scotland.[27][28] Fitzpatrick also scored a try in the Black Ferns nail-biting semifinal clash with France as they fought their way into the final.[29][30]

2024

After taking a break from rugby through most of 2023 she was named in February 2024 in the Black Fern Sevens squad for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[31]

On 20 June 2024 it was announced that she had been selected as a member of the New Zealand Women’s Rugby Sevens team for the Paris Olympics.[32] The team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19–12 in the final to give both her and New Zealand back-to-back Olympic gold medals.[33]

Personal life

Fitzpatrick undertakes medical studies at the University of Auckland.[34]

In Rarotonga in the Cook Islands on 22 December 2023 Fitzpatrick married Ryan Quentin Setefano.[1] Setefano played 166 premier games for Marist St Pats rugby team and was head coach of the club’s women’s team for eight seasons.[35] In 2023 he was appointed the assistant coach to Wellington Pride women’s rugby team during their 2023 Farah Palmer Cup campaign.

Her older sister, Sulu Fitzpatrick is a New Zealand netball international. The Fitzpatrick sisters both represented New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[36]

Two of Fitzpatrick's uncles, Olo Brown and Tana Umaga, were New Zealand rugby union internationals.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Faalogo, Seuseu (24 December 2023). "Ta'i's Take: There're many days but they're not all the same". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Fitzpatrick named in New Zealand Sevens team". www.aucklandrugby.co.nz. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Trio of new faces for Atlanta". Stuff. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  4. ^ "New Zealand sevens squads named for Olympics". All Blacks. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Historic first for Rugby Sevens as 24 athletes named for Olympic Games". Olympic.org.nz. New Zealand Olympic Team. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Black Ferns squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup named". All Blacks. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Black Ferns World Cup squad named". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Black Ferns skipper Les Elder returns for Super Series decider against England". Stuff. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: New Zealand sevens squads named as All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke only makes travelling reserves". NZ Herald. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  10. ^ Pearson, Joseph (31 July 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Golden Black Ferns sevens beat France to become Olympic champions". Stuff. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ "nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki 2022 Squad". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Exciting nib Blues Super Rugby Aupiki Squad Announced". Blues Rugby. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Long wait over as nib Blues set for Sky Super Rugby Aupiki debut". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ^ Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Experienced pair return for key clash for nib Blues". superrugby.co.nz. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. ^ Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa crowned Sky Super Rugby Aupiki champs". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". allblacks.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  19. ^ McConnell, Lynn (1 August 2022). "Double bronze for New Zealand Sevens sides in Birmingham". allblacks.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  20. ^ "NZ Sevens sides bounce back to win bronze medals". 1 News. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  22. ^ Brown, Roger (15 August 2022). "2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule"". thedailyrugby.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Black Ferns squad locked in for Rugby World Cup". allblacks.com. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Black Ferns Rugby World Cup squad named". RNZ. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  25. ^ Burnes, Campbell (16 October 2022). "Black Ferns safely into RWC quarterfinals". allblacks.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns defeat Wales 56–12". RNZ. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  27. ^ Burnes, Campbell (22 October 2022). "Black Ferns top Pool A in style". allblacks.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  28. ^ Pearson, Joseph (22 October 2022). "Black Ferns lift physical intensity to beat Scotland, finishing Rugby World Cup pool stage on a high". Stuff. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  29. ^ Burnes, Campbell (5 November 2022). "Black Ferns into the Rugby World Cup final". allblacks.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Rugby World Cup: Black Ferns win semi-final against France by one point". RNZ. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  31. ^ "17-year-old among new faces in Sevens squads ahead of Olympics". 1 News. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  32. ^ Kermeen, Mat (20 June 2024). "Sevens star Sarah Hirini completes 'unbelievable' recovery for Paris Olympics". Stuff. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  33. ^ Burgess, Michael (31 July 2024). "Olympics 2024: New Zealand women's rugby sevens clinch Olympic gold in Paris". NZ Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Congratulations to our student Olympians". University of Auckland. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  35. ^ Julian, Adam (24 May 2023). "Positive Approach Good Reward for MSP Women's Team". Club Rugby New Zealand. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Fitzpatrick sisters help lift each other to dais". Newsroom. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.