Kiwi Ferns rugby league international veteran Abigail Roache will run onto the field for her 10th Test match with the name “Retzlaff” added to her playing jersey in honour of her maternal grandparents.
Abigail Roache is the grand daughter of Hon Misa Telefoni Lesamatauanuu Tugaga and Mrs Serah Retzlaff.
The inspirational young New Zealand Samoan rugby league star says she will be surprising her grandparents and even her mom, when she runs onto the field with the addition to her name on the playing jerse
“My Pa doesn’t know it yet – I am leaving it as a surprise, but I want to represent and carry both my parents and grandparents with me this year before getting married..
“I am proud of my Samoan family heritage and there is a deep history of strength in my grandparents families on my mom’s side, so it will be a special moment running out with both last names on my back today,” Abigail told Samoa Global News before kick off.
Roache is the daughter of Marlene and Gerwin Roache and notably the granddaughter of former long-serving Samoan politician and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Misa Telefoni Retzlaff.
“I felt it was important to carry both my parents and grandparents with me this year,” Abigail shares.
“I have a history of strength and I know it is from my strong heritage, so it will be a special moment running out with both last names on my back tomorrow..”
The journey to this moment wasn’t smooth sailing for the Cowboys centre.
Roache had torn both ACL’s before the age of 20 and then had to have further surgery on her meniscus.
Her resilience through adversity is reflected in her successful career and ability to overcome set backs and return from injuries that would otherwise be career ending.
Since then, Abigail Retzlaff-Roache has gone on to represent Auckland in the Farah Palmer Cup as well the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
From there Abigail played two seasons with the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW playing 20 matches for them.
The 24 year old would go on to sign with the Cowboys for the 2025 season where she played in 9 of the 12 matches this year.
The match against Fetu Samoa will be her 10th test match for the Kiwi Ferns and maybe the most heart warming as she runs out with Retzlaff-Roache on her back.
Abigail is one of five very talented siblings.
The eldest of the siblings, Rebekah has represented Samoa on the international stage in netball.
Her older brothers Nathaniel and Paul both play high level rugby league with Nathaniel currently with the North Sydney Bears and Paulie with the Burleigh Bears.
“My Pa doesn’t know it yet – I am leaving it as a surprise, but I want to be representing and carry both my parents and grandparents with me this year before getting married..
“I am proud of my Samoan family heritage and there is a deep history of strength in my Pa and Ma’s families on my mom’s side so it will be a special moment running out with both last names on my back today,” Abigail told Samoa Global News before kick off.
With her family in mind, her faith at heart, and her Pacific roots grounding her through the highs and lows of professional sport, Abigail Roache says she wants to inspire her generation and those to come.
When she runs onto the field for the Kiwi Ferns today, she carries more than just the weight of her jersey.
Her maternal grandfather; Misa Telefoni Retzlaff is a long serving member of Samoa’s Parliament. In 1988 he resigned his position as Attorney-General to run his first election and continued a political career that would span 23 years including Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 until his retirement in 2011.
Abigail says it is important to her that her parents and grandparents are proud of her.
They have made a lot of sacrifices for us and my prayer is that they will see the fruits of their labour through what I can achieve, and be proud.
Retzlaff is of German-Swedish-Samoan descent. Abugail’s great great grandfather arrived into Samoa as a public servant of the postal services, to introduce the telephone to the country.
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