{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|7|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = 1.78 m | weight = 84 kg | position = Centre | provinceyears1 = 2017–Present | provinceyears2 = 2015–2016 | provinceyears3 = 2012–2014 | provinceyears4 = 2011 | province1 = Waikato | province2 = North Harbour Hibiscus | province3 = Waikato | province4 = Auckland | provinceapps1 = 52 | provinceapps2 = 6 | provinceapps3 = 52 | provinceapps4 = 5 | provincepoints1 = 425 | provincepoints2 = 34 | provincepoints3 = 425 | provincepoints4 = 15 | superyears1 = 2021–22; 2024 | super1 = Chiefs Manawa | superapps1 = 9 | superpoints1 = 19 | repyears1 = 2013–2022 | repteam1 = {{nwrut|New Zealand}} | repcaps1 = 29 | reppoints1 = 27 | repsevensyears1 = 2014 | repsevensteam1 = {{nwrut7|New Zealand}} | repsevenscomp1 = | medals = {{MedalSport|Women's rugby union}} {{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Women's Rugby World Cup}} {{MedalGold|2017 Ireland|Team competition}} }}
'''Chelsea Semple''' (''née'' '''Alley''', born 7 November 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns side that won their fifth Rugby World Cup title in 2017. She plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
== Rugby career == Semple made her test debut for the Black Ferns against England in July 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 October 2013 |title=Chelsea Alley aims to lead by example |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/9245995/Chelsea-Alley-aims-to-lead-by-example |access-date=2017-09-15 |website=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref>
Semple was named in the squad to the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/31052/black-ferns-squad-for-2017-womens-rugby-world-cup-named|title=Black Ferns squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup named|date=5 July 2017|website=All Blacks|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142409/http://www.allblacks.com/News/31052/black-ferns-squad-for-2017-womens-rugby-world-cup-named|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref> She scored a try in the Black Ferns 121–0 trouncing of Hong Kong at the World Cup. She has also represented New Zealand in sevens.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-12-05 |title=Chelsea Alley |url=https://halosport.co.nz/project/chelsea-alley/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Halo Sport |language=en-US}}</ref> Semple was part of the winning team of the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns/114218297/black-ferns-skipper-les-elder-returns-for-super-series-decider-against-england|title=Black Ferns skipper Les Elder returns for Super Series decider against England|date=13 July 2019|publisher=Stuff |accessdate=2019-07-17}}</ref>
In 2020 Semple was nominated for the Fiao'o Fa'amausili Medal for the Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-14 |title=Nominees announced for 2020 ASB Rugby Awards |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/nominees-announced-for-2020-asb-rugby-awards/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref> She was part of the Chiefs Manawa team that played the Blues Women in the first women's Super Rugby match in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2021 |title=Blues, Chiefs women's teams named for historic clash |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/super-rugby-blues-chiefs-womens-teams-named-for-historic-clash/NOCT3E3EWKYNJ5LR7E2EHDI2UM/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Chiefs side named for inaugural Super Rugby Women clash |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/chiefs-side-named-for-inaugural-super-rugby-women-clash/ |access-date= 2022-03-26 |website= www.rugbypass.com |date=28 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> She was then selected for the Black Ferns Autumn International tour of England and France. She featured in the Black Ferns historic 100th test match, England won 43–12.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Rendell |first= Sarah |date= 2021-11-05 |title= Black Ferns Autumn Internationals Squad 2021 |url= https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/black-ferns-autumn-internationals-squad-2021-131220 |access-date= 2022-03-26 |website= Rugby World |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mockford |first=Sarah |date=2021-10-31 |title=Red Roses secure record win over Black Ferns |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/red-roses-secure-record-win-over-black-ferns-132425 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Rugby World |language=en-US}}</ref> Semple then faced France in her sides 7–29 loss at Castres.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-19 |title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v France (Castres) |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/preview-black-ferns-v-france-castres/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnes |first=Campbell |date=2021-11-21 |title=Black Ferns better but still fall short against France |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-better-but-still-fall-short-against-france/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
Semple signed with {{rut|Chiefs|t=Chiefs Manawa|s=W}} for the inaugural 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voerman |first=Andrew |date=2021-11-06 |title=Chiefs embrace favourites tag after naming star-studded Super Rugby Aupiki squad |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/126905630/chiefs-embrace-favourites-tag-after-naming-starstudded-super-rugby-aupiki-squad |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Right up her Alley |url=https://www.nzrugbyworld.co.nz/article/right-up-her-alley |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.nzrugbyworld.co.nz}}</ref> She was named in the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/31-strong-black-ferns-squad-named-for-home-june-test-series/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website= allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref> She was recalled into the team for the August test series against Australia for the 2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title= Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series Semple' husband is an absolute rooster! YTB. |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-named-for-oreilly-cup-test-series/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= Brown |first= Roger |date=2022-08-15 |title= 2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule" |url=https://thedailyrugby.com/laurie-oreilly-cup-black-ferns-vs-wallaroos/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925010929/https://thedailyrugby.com/laurie-oreilly-cup-black-ferns-vs-wallaroos/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 September 2022 |access-date=2022-08-16 |website= thedailyrugby.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
After missing the 2023 season due to pregnancy, she rejoined Chiefs Manawa for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title= Chiefs Manawa squad announced for 2024 |url= https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/chiefs-manawa-squad-announced-for-2024 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website= Chiefs |language= en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title= Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads locked in for 2024 |url= https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/sky-super-rugby-aupiki-squads-locked-in-for-2024/ |access-date= 2023-12-22 |website=superrugby.co.nz |language=en-GB}}</ref> She returned to the field for Chiefs Manawa eight months after giving birth.<ref>{{cite news |last= Payne |first= Natasha |date= 25 March 2024 |title= Super Rugby Aupiki: Return to rugby daunting proposition for new mum, former Black Fern Chelsea Semple |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/03/super-rugby-aupiki-return-to-rugby-daunting-proposition-for-new-mum-former-black-fern-chelsea-semple.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240325112301/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/03/super-rugby-aupiki-return-to-rugby-daunting-proposition-for-new-mum-former-black-fern-chelsea-semple.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 25 March 2024 |website=Newshub |accessdate= 1 April 2024}}</ref>
In the Chiefs Manawa game against the Blues in Hamilton on 30 March 2024 she came off the bench in the second half in score a try in what was her 100th first-class game.<ref>{{cite web |last= Julian |first= Adam |date= 30 March 2024 |title= Blues Women Close Gap at Top of Ladder |url= https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/blues-women-close-gap-at-top-of-ladder/ |website= Super Rugby |accessdate= 1 April 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 2018 while she was playing for the Waikato women's team she meet James Semple, the team's assistant and backs coach. Their relationship progressed as she advanced to team captain and him to head coach. They married on 5 February 2022.<ref>{{Citation |last= Bertand |first= Kelly |date= 21 February 2022 |title= Black Ferns star Chelsea Alley 'I'VE MARRIED MY PERFECT MATCH' |journal= Woman's Day |url= https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/womans-day-nz/20220221/282037625596558}}</ref>
In 2023 she became the first Black Ferns player on full-time contract to become pregnant.<ref>{{cite web |date= 22 June 2023 |title= Black Ferns legend Chelsea Semple is excited to meet her baby girl |url= https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/parenting/pregnancy-birth/black-ferns-chelsea-semple-pregnant-baby-girl-47238/ |website= Now to Love |accessdate= 1 April 2024}}</ref> After a 42-hour labour she gave birth to daughter Cameron (”Cami”) Ellie Semple in July 2023.<ref name= McEnaney>{{cite web |last= McEnaney |first=Ashleigh |date= 16 February 2024 |title= Black Fern Chelsea's baby joy|url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/black-fern-chelsea-semples-baby-joy/ |website= Now to Love |accessdate= 1 April 2024}}</ref> Despite having a seizure immediately after giving birth due to extreme exhaustion and blood loss Semple had sufficiently recovered to begin a gentle fitness training regime two weeks later.<ref name= McEnaney/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/chelsea-alley/ Chelsea Semple] at Black Ferns
{{New Zealand Squad 2017 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Semple, Chelsea}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand female rugby union players Category:New Zealand women's international rugby union players Category:21st-century New Zealand sportswomen