23/04/2026
Our hearts are with you all as you grieve the loss of your beautiful CJ and her precious pēpi. To CJ’s whānau and loved ones, we send strength, love, and our deepest condolences.
Arohanui from all of us at Ngāruawāhia Rugby
Our Taupiri Rugby community are absolutely devastated at the loss of our girl, Courtney Johansen - our CJ, (lovingly referred to as 'Kiddo'), and her precious unborn baby, MJ.
But if you knew Kiddo, you’ll know she’d hate this being all doom and gloom… so while our hearts are breaking, we can already hear her telling us to “pull it together,” probably followed by a laugh and something just a little bit inappropriate.
Kiddo wasn’t just part of this Club, she WAS the Club for so many of us. One of the OGs of our women’s team, there from the very beginning, helping build it into what it is today. Blood, sweat, bruises, laughs, broken nose; she gave it everything, and then gave even more. The jersey meant something because humans like Kiddo wore it.
She was the kind of person who made everyone feel like they belonged. The quiet humour on the sideline, the first to check in on you, and somehow always in the middle of both the chaos and the organisation. Teammate, captain, committee member, one-(wo)man fundraising enthusiast, valued member of the sisterhood; she was all of it, all at once. Our no.4.
And honestly… we know she’s already got a plan sorted. Probably a flyover of Taupiri te Maunga first (typical), swinging home to Huntly for a quick stop like nothing’s changed, then straight to her ultimate destination, her dream life, barefoot and glowing, living her best holistic life in Rarotonga. No doubt she will make friends, and tell everyone how things should be run; now with her little one right there with her.
To her Anau (as she was secretly Cook Island - her words 😁), Papa Bear Gummage, Mama Bear Lynette, lil brother Devon, and the love of her life, Joey; we love you. We are holding you tight and standing beside you through all of this. You are part of us, always.
To all our black & yellow, check in on each other. Sit together, laugh, cry, tell the stories (especially the naughty ones, she’d insist). That’s how we carry her with us.
Inspired by Kiddos love of Harry Potter: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Kiddo, you were one of a kind. You still are. 💛🖤
