Three people from Tauranga are in France this week for the 2026 Men’s Roller Derby World Cup – and two are women.

Mount Maunganui husband and wife Ray and Veronica Diamond are representing New Zealand on the track in Orleans from April 30 to May 3. Veronica’s fellow NZ women’s roller derby representative Jasmine Cooper – known on track as Monsterella – will help her coach the men’s team, called Kiwi Toa.

Men’s roller derby competitions don’t have gender restrictions like women’s do, Veronica said. Cooper, now helping coach Kiwi Toa, had been taught to play the sport by Ray, Tauranga’s only male representative in the national side.

“Jasmine and I are both coaches at Moana Roller Derby,” Veronica said. “We both travelled to Austria as part of the NZ team in 2025’s women’s world cup – while she’s on the roster for the men’s world cup, she doesn’t plan to skate,” Veronica said.

“She’s a great skater, she’s a very good coach – and she’ll manage the bench in France.”

Veronica said Kiwi Toa had 17 people on the roster for the men’s world cup, with the most exciting thing being that they would play host nation – France – in the first game.

France are one of the best teams in the world alongside England and the USA, she said. “They’re up there – so it’ll be one of the hardest games we’ve ever played, and their supporters will be there.”

Veronica, known on track as Diamond, and Ray, known as X-Ray, have both been involved with roller derby in the Bay of Plenty for more than 15 years, growing into experienced skaters, coaches and leaders within the New Zealand roller derby community.

The couple are founding members of Tauranga’s original roller derby league, Mount Militia – now known as Moana Roller Derby – where they’ve contributed not only as athletes but as coaches and committee members, helping to shape the sport locally.

What’s the appeal?

“It’s mostly the interaction with different people that are not your norm,” said Ray, aged 58. “In my team, one of the men is 40 years younger than me, and we interact like we’re best friends.”

Veronica, who Ray wed nearly 30 years ago, agreed. “We skate with people who weren’t even born when we got married!” This kept the couple feeling young. “It sure does – the game also keeps you fit and your mind active,” Veronica said.

Veronica Diamond and husband Ray Diamond play the same sport, at the same level, in the same team. They will both play in Kiwi Toa - the NZ men's roller derby team competing at 2026 Men’s Roller Derby World Cup in France. Veronica Diamond is also the team's head coach. Photo / Kelly O’Hara

“What keeps bringing me back to the game is the strategy involved. To be successful, you need to play defensively and also be offensive – and switch from one to the other.”

Despite being older, the Diamonds are not worried about injuring themselves playing the full-contact sport. “My derby name is X-Ray, so I’ve broken a lot of bones,” Ray said. “But most were from exercising – if you let fear hold you back, you don’t enjoy what you do.”

Veronica said she wasn’t daunted playing against men at the national level. “I do a lot of work to be fit for roller derby,” she said. Ray quipped, “I find it daunting playing against my wife!”

There aren’t many couples who play the same sport, at the same level, in the same team. How does that work? “Well, Roni’s actually at a higher level than I am – let’s get that right,” said Ray, laughing.

“We’ve got to travel overseas and play together in teams,” said Veronica. “It’s fun being able to get out there and enjoy the sport together.”

Their selection for the men’s world cup was particularly meaningful after 2020’s tournament was cancelled by the pandemic.

“It’s been a long road back to this point,” Veronica said. “To now have the opportunity to compete on the world stage – and to do it alongside each other – is incredibly special.”

Tournament preparation had involved months of intensive training, advanced gameplay strategies, scenario-based drills and high-performance conditioning.

Like many athletes in the sport, the couple are self-funding their journey, covering costs of international travel, accommodation and preparation.

Despite this, both say the opportunity to represent New Zealand – and their community – made the sacrifice worthwhile. “This is about more than just playing a game,” Ray said. “It’s about representing where we come from and everything we’ve put into the sport over the years.”

The Men’s Roller Derby World Cup will bring together 24 international teams. The Diamonds said they can’t wait for the rare opportunity to compete side-by-side on roller derby’s biggest stage.