They’re some of the most successful sporting siblings Aotearoa has to offer – rugby superstars Chelsea and Alana Bremner have made their mark on the field ever since they first laced up their boots in their small South Island town of Little River.
The sisters’ paths to rugby success were different – Chelsea only began playing the national game at the age of 21 after heading along to younger sister Alana’s rugby game at Lincoln University and becoming hooked.
But with all of their success, including being part of the squad that took home the Black Ferns’ legendary 2022 World Cup win, there are some other special medals hanging next to their prized WC ones – their beloved Weet-Bix Tryathlon medals from their youth!
Now ambassadors for the famed Tryathlon, the pair chat to Capsule and share their plans for the new year, their approach to inspiring the next generation of sporty Kiwi kids and their tips for success.
Kia ora guys, lovely to chat! What does 2025 have in store for you guys? It’s a big year on the rugby calendar with the World Cup coming up soon!
Chelsea: Hi! Yup this year we are both back on the same side for Super Rugby Aupiki with both of us back down in the South Island playing for Matatū. The Black Ferns have a really exciting calendar year with the Rugby World Cup being held in England August-September. It’s our goal to be able to make that World Cup squad.
What’s day-to-day life like for you at the moment when you’re preparing for big events like world cups?
Alana: Day-to-day life doesn’t change too much, our everyday habits are what will give us the best chance at making the RWC squad. Super Rugby Aupiki is our priority right now, training hard and being the best teammates we can be and enjoying it along the way. Off the field we are prioritising recovery and spending time with family and friends.
How do you guys keep motivated during trainings and all the prep work?
Alana: We feel extremely grateful to be doing what we love as a job. Training and playing with an amazing group of girls and coaching group makes it that much easier. Having clear long-term and short-term goals are really helpful to maintain motivation, as well as a constant reminder of what you’re working towards. Some days are more challenging than others, but we always try to give 100% of whatever we have.
Do you have any nuggets of wisdom for parents who are trying to encourage their kids into sport?
Alana: Growing up we weren’t overly confident when trying new things, we always preferred it when we could bring a friend – or in our case, a sister – along. Having someone to try a new sport or activity with was always more fun for us.
Chelsea: Participating in sport teaches you a lot about yourself and instills values in you that you take with you for life. Sports not only challenge us physically but also build mental resilience, discipline, and teamwork. It teaches you how to handle both wins and losses gracefully, how to push through tough times and how to trust and rely on others. Plus, the lessons you learn from playing a sport – whether it’s the value of hard work, consistency or being a good leader – often stick with you long after you leave the field.
Alana: Above all else, and particularly at an early age, enjoying our sport kept us coming back. It’s crazy the influence and impact great coaches/people had on us in our primary school days which we can still vividly remember. We feel extremely grateful that our parents never put pressure on us and allowed us to give everything a go.
We’re chatting as you guys are ambassadors for the Kiwi classic Weet-Bix Tryathlon (ah, the memories!). Tell me a little about your own Tryathlon experiences – of course we’re assuming you smashed it and it was a telling sign of great things to come in the sport world?!
Chelsea: Growing up we did the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon about six or seven times – we always had the best experiences, but both remember always feeling so incredibly nervous sitting on the bleacher seats waiting to get into the swimming pool to start the event! I loved the opportunity to push myself and the thrill I got from participating in the event.
Alana: I have a lot of family memories from staying over at our grandparents’ the night before and the early morning hustle to find a spot for our bikes. We’d always try to find our parents straight after receiving our medal as it was always a very proud feeling!
Look at these little cuties!
As kids who have participated before, and as professional athletes who are huge inspirations to Kiwi kids (especially young girls), how important is it, do you think, to encourage kids to participate in sport, and what do you think it teaches them?
Chelsea: We love meeting Kiwi kids and hearing all about how sport or rugby has positively influenced their lives. Participating in sport teaches you a lot about yourself. It teaches resilience, teamwork, hard work, commitment and it’s a great way to challenge yourself both mentally and physically.
It’s not about kids being the fittest and the fastest, right?
Alana: Not at all! The Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon was quite possibly the best start to our sporting career as it was never about where we placed and all about the pride that comes with crossing that finishing line knowing you gave it a go and had fun doing it. We both find that we are at our best when we are having fun and enjoying ourselves.
Ok and finally (we have to ask!) who you think would come up trumps in a one-on-one TRYathlon between the two of you?
Both: Oh, that’s a tough one. Chelsea would win the swim leg, Alana would win the running leg and it would be down to who was the best on the day on the bike. Maybe that’s something we’ll have to tee up haha!
The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon encourages a healthy lifestyle, builds confidence, teaches goal-setting and makes fitness fun! Become a TRY star – register for your local event at tryathlon.co.nz