06 Oct 2026
A rugby career is only one part of a player’s story.
Through its recent social media series, Beyond the Line, the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (RPA) is bringing the work of the Personal Development Programme into view and sharing authentic, player-led stories of identity, purpose, growth and life beyond the game.
The series features five players, each with a different story of growth and development. Across study, career, culture, identity and life experience, they show the many ways players can explore their interests, build on their strengths and invest in who they are alongside their rugby.
Five players. Five different journeys. One powerful reminder that every player who wears the jersey has many dimensions to who they are and what they’re capable of.
Alena Saili
A proud Samoan and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Black Fern and Black Ferns Sevens representative Alena Saili shares what reconnecting with her Samoan culture means to her.
For Saili, learning the Samoan language is about much more than developing a new skill. It is an opportunity to strengthen her identity, deepen her sense of belonging and better understand where she and her ancestors come from.
She also reflects on the growth that has come through adversity, including injury and non-selection, and how those experiences have helped strengthen her mindset on and off the field.
Cole Forbes
Māori All Black, Blues and Bay of Plenty player Cole Forbes reflects on pursuing his rugby aspirations while exploring a path in accounting, and the experiences that have shaped who he is on and off the field.
Now working towards becoming a Chartered Accountant, Forbes shares how having something meaningful outside rugby has positively shaped his life within it. Accounting has given him a different focus, fresh perspective and greater balance, helping him enjoy his rugby more and perform at his best, while continuing to build skills and opportunities for his future.
His story highlights the value of investing in personal development throughout a playing career, rather than waiting until that career comes to an end.
Christian Lio-Willie
Professional rugby player, qualified dentist and Samoan Christian Lio-Willie reflects on the path that has enabled him to pursue two demanding careers.
He shares the discipline and commitment required to complete his dentistry studies alongside the demands of professional rugby, and the determination to keep moving towards a goal even when time and opportunities were limited.
Now a practising dentist, Lio-Willie reflects on how pursuing both paths has shaped him, with his Christian faith at the centre of who he is and guiding the way he approaches rugby, dentistry and life.
Chelsea Bremner
Black Fern and qualified primary school educator Chelsea Bremner shares how teaching has helped shape her identity outside rugby and provides a fulfilling balance to the demands of the professional game.
Teaching continues to “fill her cup”, giving Bremner a strong sense of purpose and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. That connection to people extends into her family too, with Bremner taking on the special role of marriage celebrant for her sister and fellow Black Fern Alana, a reflection of the many meaningful roles and relationships that shape who she is.
Josh Moorby
Growing up on a dairy farm, Josh Moorby’s interest in agribusiness has deep roots. Now, alongside his career with the All Blacks and Hurricanes, he’s turning that connection into postgraduate study.
Having already completed a degree, Moorby continues to invest in his education through an area that connects his upbringing, his interests and his future.
For Moorby, study also gives him something valuable in the present. A different focus provides a mental reset from the demands of professional rugby, helping him return to the game with fresh energy, perspective and enjoyment.
Check out their stories at The Rugby Club or watch snippets of their journeys across the RPA social channels.
