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. References External links Black Ferns Profile 1976 births Living people Footballers who switched code Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand women's association footballers New Zealand women's international footballers New Zealand women's international rugby union players New Zealand female rugby union players Rugby union flankers Women's association footballers not categorized by position