Canterbury winger flying high

Canterbury winger Bronwyn Didd will be flying high this week, but it won’t be anywhere near a rugby field.

Dibb will miss this weekend’s round of Farah Palmer Cup rugby as she’ll be competing at the National Gymnastic Championships in the trampoline competition.

Bronwyn Dibb
Photo: Supplied

The 23 year old broke into the Canterbury side this year after just one year of rugby under her belt.

However gymnastics and then trampoline has been her focus for the last 19 years and later this year she’ll attend the World Trampoline Championships in Azerbaijan.

Didd has excelled in trampoline (which is classed as a gymnastics sport), winning a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.

Having played Touch for a few years the Canterbury University student decided last year to dip her toe into the 15 aside game.

“With Covid we weren’t allowed to do any travelling with trampolining and I’d always liked rugby so I thought I’d give it a go with University of Canterbury and really loved it.”

She made the Canterbury team this year and debuted last weekend in their big win over Counties-Manukau.

“Playing alongside Kendra (Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge) at UC last year was the highlight of my year and so coming into the Canterbury squad this year was just another step up with so many talented girls.”

But gymnastics is where it all started for the South African born Dibb, who took up the sport as a four year old and then specialised in trampolining at the age of nine.

Canterbury wing Bronwyn Dibb
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Since then she has become one of New Zealand’s best.

She won her World Championship medal in the double mini tramp, one of fours trampoline disciplines… the individual is the only one that is at the Olympics.

Dibb believes the extensive strength work involved in trampolining as well as balance and spatial awareness helped with her seamless transition into rugby.

Speed and power has got her on the wing and at this stage the possibility of injury affecting her gymnastics career hasn’t been an issue.

“At first my coach was a little unsure about me playing rugby, but he’s been very supportive of it and I spend plenty of time in the gym making sure I do everything I can to prevent injuries.”

This week’s National Gymnastics Champs and the Farah Palmer Cup, along with her studies are keeping her busy, but she is focussing on the World Trampoline Champs at the end of the year.

But can she continue in both sports?

“I hope to be able to do it as long as I possibly can, obviously rugby is very new and I’m enjoying having the team aspect and the team culture which is really cool.”

2019 World Trampoline Champs
Photo: Supplied

“So at this stage I’m going to do both and if there comes a time to make a tough decision then I’ll have to do that.”

“I don’t really have a social life, I eat, sleep and train,” along with her studies.

And what does the future hold…. the World Trampoline Championships in November, but what about taking her rugby career further.

“I would like to make the Black Ferns at some stage, that would be cool.”

But this week it’s about competing in three trampoline events at the Nationals in Auckland, then a return to rugby… lots to do for the talented Bronwyn Dibb.