Biography.guide
Home β€Ί People β€Ί Association football player β€Ί Melissa Ruscoe
Portrait of Melissa Ruscoe

Melissa Ruscoe

b. 1976

Association footballer

Don't just read it β€” keep itBiographies to ownE-book Β· Audio Β· Video From $7 β†’

About Melissa Ruscoe

Born 1976. Melissa Ruscoe is a New Zealand association football player, rugby union player and teacher.

Melissa Jane Ruscoe (born 15 December 1976) is a New Zealand sportswoman who has served as captain of her country's national team in two different football codes: association football and rugby union.

Football career

Ruscoe made her Football Ferns debut in a 0–1 loss to Bulgaria on 24 August 1994. She finished her international career with 23 caps and 2 goals to her credit.

Rugby career

After leaving behind her international career in soccer, Ruscoe switched to rugby, joining the Canterbury team in New Zealand's women's provincial championship in 2003. As a loose forward, she made the Black Ferns the following year. She has played on Black Ferns teams that won the Churchill Cup in 2004 and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2006, and was also named the New Zealand women's player of the year in 2005. Ruscoe captained the Black Ferns to victory in the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup.

In the 2011 New Year Honours, Ruscoe was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women's rugby. She has been the assistant coach of Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup since 2016. She currently teaches at Hillmorton High School.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it β€”
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop β€” from $7

Instant download Β· yours to keep Β· every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Also known as
Melissa Jane Ruscoe

People in Melissa Ruscoe's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Melissa Ruscoe's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Melissa Ruscoe?

Association footballer

When was Melissa Ruscoe born?

Melissa Ruscoe was born on 15 December 1976 in Inglewood.

What is Melissa Ruscoe's occupation?

Melissa Ruscoe is an association football player, rugby union player and teacher.

What nationality is Melissa Ruscoe?

Melissa Ruscoe is New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: Melissa Ruscoe

Β· Wikidata: Q3305136

Β· DBpedia: Melissa Ruscoe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Melissa Ruscoe. https://biography.guide/melissa-ruscoe/

MLA: "Melissa Ruscoe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/melissa-ruscoe/.

Chicago: "Melissa Ruscoe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/melissa-ruscoe/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons Β· author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC