Rosie at the Final: "Shaking the whole way through"

At the end of the Rugby World Cup, twenty teams had been narrowed down to just two. When New Zealand and Australia faced off in the final, they were joined on the pitch by one lucky young girl: London’s own Rosie, who was selected for DHL’s Match Ball Delivery for the Final.

Nine-year-old Rosie had several weeks to picture what her Match Ball Delivery at the Final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup would be like. She had a short list of three teams that she hoped to see in the final: England (“because I live in England”) and Ireland (“because my uncle supports them”) were eliminated earlier in the tournament, but her third choice remained.

“I just wanted New Zealand to be in the Final so I could see the haka,” said Rosie buzzing with excitement a few hours before the big match. The All Blacks had her support for another reason, too:

“My mum kind of fancies one of the boys.”

Rosie

Rosie knew she’d be on the pitch when New Zealand performed the haka, a traditional dance performed by the team to formally announce their challenge to their opponent.

“I think I’m going to be quite frightened by it!” Rosie said with a smile, adding that she had tried her own haka with some friends recently. “I’m definitely not as scary as them.”

DHL searched the globe to bring 48 children from 42 countries to the UK for one unforgettable experience – to deliver the match ball to a Rugby World Cup 2015 game. Rosie won the chance to deliver the match ball onto the field of play for the Final, which saw New Zealand take on Australia on October 31.

The Webb Ellis Cup

As the Match Ball Delivery Ambassador for the Final, Rosie walked right past the Webb Ellis Cup on her way onto the pitch with the ball. It was her second encounter with the Cup after attending a previous DHL event where it was on display.

“I thought it would be a lot bigger!” Rosie said of the Cup, which measures just 15 inches (38 centimeters) high.

Rosie strode confidently to the pitch, accompanied by match referee Nigel Owens, who Rosie said was “really kind.”

Watch Rosie's big moment in the Final!

Mindful of her proud parents seated among the 80,000 fans at London’s Twickenham Stadium, Rosie said after the match she was “shaking the whole way through.”

“It felt like I was going to have a heart attack!”

An experience of a lifetime

Rosie kept a diary of everything she experienced during her big day for the Match Ball Delivery, from her tears of joy when she woke up in the morning to the “scary-in-a-good-way” feeling of watching the haka live and up close.

To cap off Rosie’s perfect day, New Zealand and Australia delivered a thrilling final, with New Zealand finally sealing their second straight Rugby World Cup victory in the second half with a bold drop goal. The goal scorer and man of the match? Dan Carter, Rosie’s mum’s favorite player.

Later in DHL’s hospitality suite, Rosie met former All Black Ali Williams, who offered some encouraging words for Rosie’s future as a rugby player. From a day of filming at her school, to seeing the Webb Ellis Cup and meeting rugby legends like Williams or England’s Martin Corry, and finally to witnessing the All Blacks’ haka right up close, Rosie said she’s had “the experience of a lifetime.”

“DHL have been with me all along,” Rosie said. “Thank you!”

Match Ball Delivery moments

We’ve accompanied Rosieevery step of the way during her Match Ball Delivery experience, starting with a visit to her school to see her in action on the rugby pitch and ending as she proudly delivered the ball for the Final.

There are plenty more inspiring stories from DHL’s other Match Ball Delivery winners to be seen on the DHL Rugby YouTube channel. Or, read about them right here on InMotion.