BLACK FERNS LEGEND CHELSEA - 'WE'RE SO EXCITED TO MEET OUR FUTURE GOALKICKER!'

The rugby star and her hubby James are over the moon about becoming a family of three

- Ashleigh McEnaney. 

When preparing for their long-awaited honeymoon abroad, Black Ferns star Chelsea Semple and her hubby, professional rugby coach James, were optimistic about the contents of their suitcase, packing a stash of pregnancy tests just in case. A year earlier, the footy-mad couple who had long dreamed of starting a family - embarked on a series of fertility tests, only to be told by doctors they'd likely struggle to conceive.

"I've been in high W performance sport for over 12 years, which had put a lot of physical strain on my body and, on top of that, I'd had issues with my ovaries in the past, so James and I were proactive about getting tested, knowing kids were definitely in our future," says Chelsea, who also plays for the Chiefs Manawa and is a commentator for Sky Sport. "The news wasn't overly positive. We were told it could take some time to get pregnant naturally, if at all, and that we may need to consider IVF."

Fast-forward a year, however, and Chelsea's 30-week baby bump tells otherwise, with the overjoyed parents-to-be set to meet their daughter in just a few short weeks. Speaking to Woman’s Day from her Hamilton home, the 30-yearold says she was in disbelief when a pregnancy test taken in her Portugal hotel room revealed she was expecting.

“James and I were definitely hopeful, of course, but given what we knew, deep down we were certain it wouldn’t come easily. I was shaking when I saw those two lines and immediately bolted up to the rooftop, where James was in the pool. He was equally as shocked – so much so, he just sort of stared at me blankly and didn’t even jump out of the water!”

But the surprise was a welcome one, making the elated couple’s globe-trotting getaway – which took them from Europe to Africa – one for the ages.