Alaina Perkins, who's in year 12 at Rolleston College, has been named in a New Zealand team to compete at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Brisbane in July next year.

The selection event was recently featured on the New Zealand Herald website.

Alaina has been involved with roller derby since she was 10 years old, and says she started because her mum was heavily involved with her league. She had already been roller skating for some time before she started.

Alaina competing in the 2023 World Cup in Valence. Photos by Sarah Perkins

"I also play rugby, and roller derby keeps my fitness levels high during the off season," she says.

Alaina has found that it's helped her rugby game.

"I'm going to be honest, my favourite thing about roller derby is hitting people over as much as I can," says Alaina. It's a highly physical sport.

"I recommend it to others if they like being physical and keeping fit."

Alaina's main goal in roller derby is to make her mum proud. She represented New Zealand last year at an event in France, so next year's event won't be her first rodeo.

Her next game is coming up soon on 13 July, against a team from Australia.

New Zealand playing Australia at the World Cup in Valence, France in 2023.

During scrimmage at the selection event in Auckland in the weekend. Photos courtesy Team New Zealand Junior Roller Derby on Facebook.