Kerslake joined Ilfracombe Rugby Football Club aged 10 and has loved rugby ever since. <\/p>\n
![\"Honey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/honey-kerslake-at-training-7GKEMN7GU5BQPI56MGKT7SWUV4.jpg\")
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Honey Kerslake at training (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
Her mum has been a major support of her pursuing her goals. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe made me believe I can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old loose forward wants to chart her own course with her style of rugby. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I’ve got loads of inspiration from everyone and obviously [Collins], but I think it’s really important that I find my own way through my pathway of rugby\u2026 I’m excited for the journey ahead.<\/p>\n
“I just strive to be the best person and player I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerslake has already had a busy 2026.<\/p>\n
She started the year as Exeter College women’s captain, then in April, she co-captained the England under-18 women’s team, before getting a call-up to the under-21s. <\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve loved it. I quite like being busy. At the time I was doing my A-levels [exams]… so it was chaos, but it was so exciting.”<\/p>\n
She was signed by Exeter Chiefs Women in July. A pre-league competition is now underway.<\/p>\n
One of her Kiwi teammates is vice-captain Amy Rule, who also lives with Kerslake. <\/p>\n
![\"Jerry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/new-zealand-number-8-jerry-collins-runs-with-the-ball-during-U7JA7JUP2NHLZAFHMHJFGBR7QE.jpg\")
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Jerry Collins in action (Source: Photosport)<\/p>\n
\u201cI love how diligent she is, she’s gonna probably hate me saying this but she’s a little iPad kid and I was like, \u2018What are you doing?\u2019 but she’s actually always on Hudl [a sport video analysis platform],” Rule said.<\/p>\n
“She’s always working on her craft and stuff so that’s really cool.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kerslake’s has “high aspirations” for rugby, including being part of England’s women\u2019s team, but with her ties to New Zealand and Samoa, she said you \u201cnever know\u201d where she’ll end up. <\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up, I think I only watched New Zealand rugby.”<\/p>\n
That included watching her dad’s rugby highlights, with Kerslake remembering seeing his tackle on France’s Sebastien Chabal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of them are high tackles nowadays, so I don’t think I’ll be copying any of that anytime soon unless I want to be sent off the pitch (laughs).\u201d<\/p>\n
Honey Kerslake is embarking on a professional rugby career, strictly on her terms. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
Kerslake said she wants to represent her English, New Zealand and Samoan culture the best she can. <\/p>\n
“I just strive to be the best person and player I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
She played for Northern United in Porirua where Jerry’s sister Brenda Collins was part of the coaching team last summer. <\/p>\n
\u201cI love visiting New Zealand and the support that I get from the community when I visit my family is immense.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s the first time my grandfather watched me play because my grandma and my auntie came to watch me in under-18 Six Nations last year, so that was really special for me as well and just for them to get to see me play, I think it means a lot for them too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Umaga, the former All Blacks captain and currently part of the team’s coaching set-up, was also among the crowd at Jerry Collins Stadium. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing her follow in her father’s steps, very proud. On the ground of her father in front of her New Zealand family,” he said. <\/p>\n
She had also spent time with her sister Ayla in New Zealand, who was just 10 weeks old when she survived the car crash that killed their dad and her mum Alana Madill in France in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s just been great to get to know my family and things over that side.”<\/p>\n
Honey Kerslake finds it \u201creally special\u201d hearing stories about her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter where I am, there’ll always be a connection back to him.\u201d<\/p>\n