This year Blues loose forward Shannon Leota will get to split her time between work and rugby and she's delighted.
Shannon Leota Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Leota is lining up for the second Super Rugby Aupiki competition with the full backing of her employer and she's very happy with the level of respect work places are now showing for sports women.
She debuted for Auckland in 2014 before starting her studies at Auckland University.
Leota has been an Intellectual Property Engineer at Fisher and Paykel Health Care for the last four years and now also earns a wage as a rugby player.
The 27 year old will work Monday to Wednesday for F&P and then commit herself to the Blues from Thursday to Sunday.
She says she has a really supportive employer and believes the attitude of employers towards women's sport and rugby in particular has changed dramatically in her time.
"In the first few years employers weren't flexible around it, you had to find a job that fitted in with the time you needed to practice.
"But now with the exposure that the Farah Palmer Cup has achieved there is a lot more respect for the women's game and companies are becoming more supportive of girls playing rugby."
Leota doesn't think there is a sense of obligation by employers, instead there there is a true belief that it benefits both parties.
"I think they see a lot of value in having staff with things outside of work where it pushes and challenges you as a person.
"I think they see the qualities that I gain as a rugby player transferring to the work environment that makes me work better and more productively."
She admits her work mates have taken a lot more interest in her game and women's rugby in general, especially after the Black Ferns World Cup win last year.
"They're aware of players and names especially the Black Ferns... it's really cool and exciting, I didn't think that would happen for a very long time."
Shannon Leota Photo: PHOTOSPORT
For now though she's fully focussed on the Super Rugby Aupiki season, which she now sees as a bonus in her career.
"When I went to University I had to make a decision whether to prioritise rugby or my engineering degree.... I decided to focus on my degree, so still being able to play and now get paid for it is a massive bonus.
Leota loved watching the the Black Ferns in last year's World Cup, but concedes her days of aspiring to play internationally are probably over.
"I think I'm getting towards the end of my playing career.
"I'm a loose forward and if you look at the depth of talent coming through I need to take a more realistic approach and really just make the most of this Aupiki season.
"This is the first time I've really worked part time and can fully concentrate on my rugby and develop my rugby and so I'm really looking forward to that.
Leota spent three seasons on the sidelines following a major knee injury and a shoulder reconstruction, which left her wondering if she'd ever return to the game.
"I'm sure the time will come soon where my body tells me it's time to give up.
"There is a big group of younger players in the Blues squad and they see this as a building block to push for higher honours, where I'm at the other end of the spectrum.
"I'm really happy to be here and so I'm going to make the most of it by working as hard as I can to show I deserve that Blues jersey,
