Katelyn VAHA'AKOLO

Date of Birth: Tuesday the 18th April 2000 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 247 and Marist Black Ferns Number 34

Position: Wing Threequarter

BLACK FERNS in 2023 [5 games - 5 Tests scoring four tries]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : St Dominic's Catholic College in Auckland.

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2022 to the present [8 games and scoring 30 points as of the end of the 2022 season].

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 29th June 2023 and was played against Australia at Brisbane [Australia].

COMMENTS:

1. Vaha'akolo was born in Auckland and is of both Maori and Tongan descent. She is a member of a talented sporting family with her brother, Freedom, having played professonal rugby with Otago in the NPC and with the Highlanders in Super Rugby also as a Wing Threequarter.

2. Vaha'akolo is herself a very talented sportsperson growing up playing netball before first displaying her talents with the "oval ball" as a Rugby League player. In 2020, as a 20-year-old she first played Rugby League for the Te Atatu Roosters within the Auckland Club competition, and then in 2021 she played for the Akarana Falcons in the inaugural NZRL National Women's Premiership. In 2022, she temporarily moved "across the ditch" to play for the Newcastle Knights in the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership [playing 5 matches and scoring a try]. Such was the quality of her performances as soon as she began to play league, she was selected to play for the New Zealand "Kiwi Ferns" Rugby League team in 2020 with her playing as a Wing Threequarter in a Test Match played against Samoa [she scored a try]. She was selected again in 2022 and  she played for the "Kiwi Ferns" at the delayed "2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup" held in England [New Zealand were the beaten finalists]. Upon returning to New Zealand later that year, she played for the Pt Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Club competition.

3. Significantly though, Vaha'akolo was also playing Rugby Union and Touch Rugby during this time with her playing for the Moana Pasifika team in the "2021 Takiwhitu Tuturu Rugby Sevens" competition [that included playing the "Black Ferns Sevens" team]. Then in 2022, she began playing for the Women's Premier Team at our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland who went on to win the "Coleman Shield" that season defeating Ponsonby's "Fillies" in the final by 13 points to 10... she was the competition's equal "top try scorer" [along with fellow Marist player Mele Hufanga - who herself has since gone on to play Test Match League for the New Zealand "Kiwi Ferns"].

4. In 2022, Vaha'akolo was selected for the first time as a member of the Auckland "Storm" team that competed in the "2022 Farah Palmer Cup" competition with the Storm being that season's beaten Finalists.

5. At the end of 2022 [while in the UK with the "Kiwi Ferns" playing at the Rugby League World Cup], Vaha'akolo signed to join the Blues Women's team to play in the "2023 Super Rugby Aupiki" competition. She then had a standout season for the Blues Women's team in that 2023 season who were defeated in the Semi-Final by the eventual winners, the Matatu.

6. As a result of her outstanding performances with the Blues, Vaha'akolo was given a fulltime contract with the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2023. She was first officially selected to play for the Blacks Ferns when she was named as a member of the squad to compete in the "2023 Pacific Fours Series" tournament for the "O'Reilly Cup" that was held in Australia. 

7. During that tournament, Vaha'akolo made her debut for the Black Ferns in a Test Match played in Brisbane against the Australian "Wallaroos" [won by 50 points to nil]. She then played in the Test Match in that same tournament against Canada [won by 52-21]. She scored her first points as a member of the Black Ferns in the Test Match played against Australia in Hamilton when she scored two tries in the  43 points to 3 victory.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scoring TBC'd points

Patricia MALIEPO

Date of Birth: Thursday the 13th March 2003 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 229 and Marist Black Ferns Number 33

Position: Fullback and First Five-Eighth

BLACK FERNS in 2021 and 2023 [4 games - 6 Tests scoring 7 points through a try and a conversion].

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Edgewater College in Auckland.

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2019 to the present [24 games and scoring 172 points as of the end of the 2022 season].

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 31st October 2021 and was played against England at Exeter [England].

COMMENTS:

1. Maliepo was a talented sportsperson right from a young age and she chose rugby as her "prefered sport"... playing mainly as a First Five Eighth and she joined the our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland in 2019 at the young age of 16-years-old [she had actually started playing for our club at the age of 9 at junior levels hv=aving ben named the "Best Player" in an all boys team]. In the "Coleman Cup" competition of Auckland Rugby that season, she immediately impressed due to her high levels of skill and confidence. She is a member of a talented sporting familiy with her brother Moa having been a member of the Scared Heart College 1st XV and who has since played at international level for Romania.

2. Maliepo was first selected to play for the Auckland "Storm" team in that same 2019 season as a 16-year-old and she made her debut in their opening match played against Waikato. With her becoming a part of that team, this meant that she came under the direct guidance of the "legend of world rugby", Anna Richards [coach of the "Storm"]. That season, she went on to play 8 matches [7 of them were starting with one "from the bench'] including playing in the Final [sadly Auckland were beaten by Canterbury] and in that season she scored 78 points [3 tries, 27 conversions, and 3 penalties]. She again represented the "Storm" in 2020 [playing both First Five Eighth and Fullback] and in 2021 with her by the end of the 2021 "Farah Palmer Cup" having played 21 games for Auckland. She was amember of the "Strom" when the won the "2023 Farah Palmer Cup" by defeating Canterbury at Christchurch in the Final.

3. In 2020, Maliepo was selected to play for the "New Zealand Barbarians" team that played two games against the New Zealand "Black Ferns" and playing from First Five Eighth, she scored 14 points [1 try, 3 conversions and a penalty] in performances that further "caught the eye" of the selectors... at the still very young age of 17.

4. Maliepo played in the first ever Blues Women's team that played the inaugural "Super Rugby" game in 2021 as part of a promotion for the inclusion of women's teams in the Super Rugby Competition. Coming "off the bench" in the game played at Eden Park, Maliepo slotted into First Five Eighth from where she scored a try in the match. Her inclusion in the match was notable as it saw the Blues team become resurgent having previously become increasingly overwhlemed by their opponents, the "Chiefs" Women's team [lost 39 points to 12]. She also played in a Trial match for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team in 2020 [who were planning to tour Australia, but this was subsequently cancelled] and she scored a try for the Probables team in that match. She has played three times for the Blues and she has scored 11 points [as at the end of the 2022 season].

5. Maliepo was first selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team when she was selected to be a part of the team that toured the Northern Hemisphere in 2021; namely to tour England and France. This tour was under "Covid-19 conditions" for the New Zealand team who had not played together for just short of two years prior to the tour while the northern hemisphere teams were just finishing their "Six Nations" competition plus their highly competitive European Club series.

6 Maliepo made her debut in the first of the two Test Matches played on that tour by the New Zealand Black Ferns against the current World Champions England team again entering the match "from the bench". She also appeared in the second of those two Tests and then played in one of the two Tests played aginst the French Women's team [successfully kicking a conversion to score her first points in international rugby]... again joining both games 'from the bench". That Northern Hemisphere tour was a "challenging" one for the Black Ferns with all four Tests being defeats [two record defeats by England], but it is well worth remembering that this team had not played together significantly for nearly two seasons and massive improvements were seen in their performance on that tour.

7. 2022 was looking to be a stand out year for Maliepo as she played for the Blues in the inaugural "Super Rugby Aupiki" competition and she was playing to be selected for the "Black Ferns" with New Zealand hosting the "2022 Rugby World Cup". Sadly during an injury plagued season, Maliepo was not selected to play at this tournament. However, she was again selected for the Black Ferns in 2023 with her scoring her first try in international rugby [in her first ever start] when playing at Fullback during the Test Match played against Australia at Hamilton [won by 43 to 3]. She then played in the Test Match played against France [lost 17 to 18] and then in the Test Match played against Wales [won by 70 to 7] with her joining both games as a replacement at Fullback.​​​​​​​

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scoring TBC'd points

A MORE APPROPRIATE Hi-DEFINITION PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, BUT IS BEING ACTIVELY SOUGHT.

Onjeurlina F. LEIATAUA

Date of Birth: Friday the 1st December 1995 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 175 and Marist Black Ferns Number 32

Position: First Five-Eighth

BLACK FERNS in 2013 [1 game - 1 Test]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Papatoetoe High School in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2012 to 2017 [44 games and scoring 45 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut as well as Last Game was on the 20th July 2013 and was played against England at Pukekohe.

COMMENTS:

1. Right from the outset, Leiataua impressed with her speed, strength, and defensive capability which caused her to be tipped for a significant career in rugby especially with the Black Ferns... be it in Fifteens or Sevens. 

2. Leiataua first played for Auckland at provincial level while still at Papatoetoe High School as a 16-year-old and she was a member of the "Storm" team that won the "Women's Provincial Championship" that same 2012 season with her scoring a try in the Final.

3. In 2013, Leiataua joined the Black Ferns squad and she made her "debut" that season for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in the Test Match played against England at Pukekohe [Auckland].

4. This was Leiataua's only appearance for the Black Ferns, but she continued to play for Auckland at either Centre or Wing Threequarter through to 2017 with her having played 44 games for the "Storm" while scoring 45 points.

5. In 2018, Leiataua changed codes to play Rugby League and she has since played for the Warriors in the "NRL Womens"  competition as part of the Australia Rugby League in 2018 and 2019 with her also playing for the "Kiwi Ferns" in both of those years.

6. In 2020, Leiataua returned to play rugby including playing for Samoa as they were preparing to compete at the "2021 Rugby World Cup" to be held in New Zealand. This was postponed and she is looking to be apart of the team that will now play in this tournament in 2022.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Total New Zealand Statistics: 45 First Class games and scoring 45 points

Po'omaikelani "Kelani"  Elizabeth Anne MATAPO

Date of Birth: Thursday the 3rd March 1983 at Titikaveka [in the Cook Islands]

Black Ferns Number 165 and Marist Black Ferns Number 31

Position: Lock Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2011 [1 game - 1 Test]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Mount Roskill Grammar School in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2006 to 2012 [26 games and 10 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut as well as Last Game was on the 29th November 2011 and was played against England at Esher [England]

COMMENTS:

1. From our proud Club, Matapo first played for Auckland in 2007 playing as a Number 8, but the following season she moved forward into the Second Row to become a Lock Forward. Ultimately she played 21 games for the Auckland "Storm" team in a career that ended in 2012. She also played for the Auckland Sevens team as a Forward at the "National Sevens" tournament for several seasons.

2. Matapo played netball for the Cook Islands at the "2010 Commonwealth Games" that were held in New Delhi [India] including playing against the New Zealand "Silver Ferns".

3. Matapo was one of four players from the "2010 New Zwaland Provinicial Championship" winning team that were selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team in 2011. She made her debut for the Black Ferns when she played in the Test Match against England in the Surry township of Esher. Sadly, the New Zealand team [then the "Rugby World Cup" champions having won the tournament the year before lost by 21 points to 7].

4. This was Matapo's only appearance for the "Black Ferns" and after again playing for the Auckland "Storm" in 2012 she retired from playing First Class rugby.

4. Matapo currently works and lives in Australia with her family. Her father, Tiki Matapo, is a former Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand as well as having been the President of the "Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee" [CISNOC].

Total New Zealand Statistics: 27 First Class games

Rawinia EVERITT

Date of Birth: Thursday the 4th September 1986 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 162 and Marist Black Ferns Number 30

Position: Lock Forward

BLACK FERNS from 2011 and 2012 with Auckland and 2013 to 2017 with Counties Manukau [21 games and scoring 25 points - 21 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Unknown

Provincial Teams: Auckland in 2011 and 2012 [11 games and scoring 5 points] and Counties Manukau from 2013 to 2017 [16 games and scoring 10 points] [2014 - 9 games and 10 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 26th November 2011 and was played against England at London

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 17th June 2017 and was played against England at Rotorua

COMMENTS:

1. Prior to playing Rugby, Everitt had been a highly talented netball player with her having played for the "Northern Mystics" in the "ANZ Championship" [as it was called then] in 2008 and 2009.

2. In 2010, Everitt decided to take a break from netball and she began playing rugby with our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland. 

3. At provincial level, Everitt was selected to play for the Auckland in her first season of playing the game [2010]. She also played for Auckland in both 2011 and 2012 with her ultimately playing 11 games for the province before transferring to play for Counties Manukau in 2013. In those three seasons playing for Auckland, she was a member of the "Storm" team that won the "National Provincial Championship" each of those years.

4. Everitt was named as the 2012 [from our Club] and the 2014 "New Zealand Women’s Player of the Year". She was an important part of Counties Manukau’s return to the Women’s Provincial Championship in 2013 and to their "Farah Palmer Cup" success in 2016 as a player as well as Captain. ​​​​​​​

5. Everitt was first selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2011 when she became a member of the Black Ferns team that toured England at the end of that season.

6. Being able to cover both lock and loose forward positions, Everitt become one of the team’s leading performers. She was a member of the Black Ferns team at the "2014 Rugby World Cup", but she missed playing in 2015 when injury prevented her from joining the Black Ferns for the "International Super Series" in Canada. However, she made a strong return in 2016 appearing in two Tests. 

7. Everitt retried from playing rugby in 2018 after it was revealed that she had a significant back injury that required surgery as well as meant that she could never play rugby again. She became a Coach in Hong Kong [initially she was going to be a Player-Coach] that year, but she has been since involved with a rugby project known as "Native Sports Performance" in Northland and is the coach of the 2020 Northland Women's team in the "Farah Palmer Cup".

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 48 Games and scoring 40 points

Teresa Kiri Te TAMAKI

Date of Birth: Thursday 31st December 1981 in Rotorua

Blacks Ferns Number 146 and Marist Black Ferns Number 29

Position: Second Five-Eighth and Hooker

BLACK FERNS from 2007 to 2011 with Auckland and from 2012 to 2015 from Waikato [10 games - 10 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Unknown

Province Teams: Auckland from 2005 to 2006 and 2009 to 2011 [31 games and scoring 15 points] and Waikato from 2012 to 2015 [25 games and scoring 20 points]

- New Zealand Blacks Ferns Debut was on the 20th October 2007 and was played against Australia at Porirua

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 5th July 2015 and was played against USA at Edmonton [Canada}

COMMENTS:

1. Te Tamaki was first selected to play for Auckland in 2005 and she subsequently played 23 games for the "Storm" until 2012 when she transferred to play for Waikato [She was the Captain of Waikato from 2012 to 2014]. She was a member of the Auckland team that won the National Women's Championship in 2002 defeating Canterbury in the Final.

2. Te Tamaki was a player capable of playing both 15's and 7's to a very high level with her representing Auckland and the New Zealand Black Ferns in both forms of the game. Her versatiliy was not restricted to the types of rugby as she played Second Five-Eighth and Centre Threequarter for the majority of her career, but in 2014 she moved into the Forwards to player Hooker.

3. Te Tamaki was first selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2007 and her "debut" was in a Test Match played against Australia at Porirua. ​​​​​​​She played for the Black Ferns in 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2015 with her ending her career playing for the team that won the "2015 Canada Cup" tournament.​​​​​​​ She was a member of the New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens in 2008 and 2009.

4. Te Tamaki is a Physiotherapist currently living and working in Hamilton where she manages her own business. Since retiring from playing rugby, Te Tamaki has remained involved with the game and is currently a Physiotherapist with the "Chiefs" in "Super Rugby" while also having involvement with Waikato Rugby where she is the Coach of the province's Women's Sevens team and she is part of the Management Group with the Men's "Mitre 10 Cup" team working as their physiotherapist.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 75 games and scoring 23 points [2014]

A MORE APPROPRIATE Hi-DEFINITION PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, BUT IS BEING ACTIVELY SOUGHT.

Rachel J. MAKATA ​​​​​​​[now Dolheguy]

Date of Birth: Wednesday the 10th July 1974 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 136 and Marist Black Ferns Number 28 

Position: Lock and Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2006 [2 games - 2 Tests and scored 5 points]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School: Pakuranga College in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland in 2002 to 2006 [tbc'd games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut on the 4th September 2006 and was played against Samoa at Edmonton [Canada]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 8th September 2006 and was played against Scotland at Edmonton [Canada]

COMMENTS: 

1. Before Rugby, Makata was previously a representative netball player with her representing New Zealand at Under 16 age group level and  she was a ballet dancer for 14 years training with the New Zealand Ballet.

2. Being a natural Lock Forward due to her height, Makata first played for Auckland in 2002. However, she did not have her first full season in the Auckland "Storm" side until 2005 after having previously played regularly for the province’s B team. 

3. In that 2005 season, Makata also played for a New Zealand Invitational XV side in the match they played against the touring England team and she was part of the Wider Training squad for the New Zealand Black Ferns team that was preparing for the Test series that year to be played against  that same English team. 

4. However, it was the following season when Makata made her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team that were competing at the "2006 Rugby World Cup" held in Canada. She did this after only having been playing rugby for five years prior to her selection and this was considered to be remarkable achievement. 

5. Makata's "debut" game was played against Samoa in Canada's Edmonton and she scored a try in the 50 popints to 0 victory. Her second game for the Black Ferns was in the match  played against Scotland occurred just four days later. Both matches were resounding victories for the Black Ferns and she was part of the Black Ferns team that won the "2006 Rugby World Cup" with the team defeating England in the Final.

6. Upon returning to New Zealand, Makata ended her Rugby playing career and she is currently a Police Officer working in Auckland.

7. Makata's biological father is a former All Black Captain,; namely the late Frank Oliver, but she was raised by adopted parents. Of course, this also means that former All Black Captain Anton Oliver is her half-brother. Accordingly, she along with her father and brother hold a unique place in New Zealand Rugby [plus maybe World rugby] history... possibly the only Father, Son, and Daughter to have represented their country at Rugby.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 21 First Class games and scoring 15 points

Victoria E. BLACKLEDGE [now Grant]

Date of Birth: Thursday the 26th August 1982 in Auckland

Black Fern Number 135 and Marist Black Fern Number 27

Position[s]: Fullback and Wing Threequarter

BLACK FERNS from 2006 to 2013 [18 games and scoring 30 points - 17 Tests with 3 as Captain]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Putaruru High School in Putaruru [Waikato]

Provincial Teams: North Harbour from 2002 to 2003 [10 games], Auckland from 2004 to 2012 [40 games and scoring 225 points through 45 tries to 2011], and Waikato in 2013

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 4th September 2006 and was played against Samoa at Edmonton [Canada] 

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 13th July 2013 and was played against England at Auckland.

COMMENTS:

1. Grant initially played First Class rugby for North Harbour, but in 2004 she transferred to play for our proud club in Auckland from where she was selected to play the first of her ultimately 40 games for Auckland at provincial level.

2. In one of these games for Auckland, Grant scored four tries in the match played against Otago in 2008 and this was one of only eight games in which a player has scored four tries in the same match.

3. Grant made her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" at the "2006 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup" and she scored tries in each of her first two matches. She was named as the "New Zealand Women's Player of the Year" in 2008 and she became the Captain of the Black Ferns for the first time when she lead the team at the "2010 Rugby World Cup" in the Pool Game played against Wales. At that tournament, she played in every match and she scored two tries as the Black Ferns won their fourth "Rugby World Cup" in a row. She was the Captain of the Black Ferns in 2011 when they travelled to England.

​​​​​​​4. Not only did she hold her own in fifteens throughout her career, she was also a very good exponent of the Sevens game playing for the New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens team in 2008 and 2009.

5. Grant was named as the New Zealand "Women's Rugby Player of the Year" in 2008

6. In 2012 Grant needed back surgery and this kept her on the sidelines, but she returned to play for the Black Ferns again in 2013 for the First test match against England. However, the back pain remained and this forced her to retire.

7. Upon retirement as a player, Grant transitioned into being a Coach. She initially headed the New Zealand Sevens Development programme for Women, she guided as a Coach the New Zealand team that won the gold medal at the "2018 Youth Olympics" held in Argentina, she coached Sevens professionally with the "Tokyo Phoenix" in Japan for four months in 2019, and she is currently the Co-Coach of the Black Ferns Sevens Development team.

6. As well as being a professional Rugby Coach, Grant has a Bachelors Degree in Health Science majoring in Physiotherapy and a Post Graduate Degree in Sports Medicine having previously managed her own business as a Physiotherapist.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 63 First Class games and scoring 240 points including 48 tries

Waimania Lesley TEDDY

Date of Birth: Thursday the 13th February 1979 in Whakatane

Black Ferns Number 134 and Marist Black Ferns Number 26

Position: Halfback

BLACK FERNS from 2005 to 2007 [7 games - 7 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Te Whanau A Apanui Area School in Omaio [near Matakana which is north of Auckland]

Provincial Team: Auckland in 2001, 2002, and 2005 to 2007  [31 games and scoring 40 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 22nd October 2005 against England at Auckland.

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 20th October 2007 and was played against Australia at Porirua [Wellington].

COMMENTS:

1. Teddy was born in the Bay of Plenty, but upon coming to Auckland to live she began playing her rugby at Club level with our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club playing as a Halfback.

2. Teddy first played for Auckland at provincial level in 2001 and ultimately played 31 games for the "Storm" while scoring 40 points through 8 tries. In 2005, she scored a try as replacement halfback in her province's championship win against Canterbury.

3. Teddy entered the international arena in 2005 following strong performances for Auckland in the national women's competition. She made her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in the Test Match played against England in Auckland that was won by 33 points to 8. She also played in the Second Test of that two match series against England with the Second Test played in Hamilton that was won by 24 points to 15.

3. Teddy was then selected to be a member of the New Zealand "Black Ferns"  team that played at the "2006 Rugby World Cup" that was held in Canadian city of Edmonton. She played for the Black Ferns in the opening game of the tournament against Canada that was won by 66 points to 7, then against Samoa that was won by 50 points to 0, and in the Semi-Final played against France that was won by 20 points to 10. She also played in the Final of that "2006 Rugby World Cup" against England that was won by 25 points to 17 by the Black Ferns... meaning that she was a "world champion"!

4. The following season, Teddy again played for Auckland and the Black Ferns with her playing her last match for the Black Ferns in the Test Match played against Australia in Porirua that was won by 29 points to 12. She was never in a losing Black Ferns team and all of her matches wearing the famous "black jersey" were wins for New Zealand.

5. After living in Australia [Perth] for several years, Teddy is now currently back living in Auckland where she works for Watercare and living there with her family [including her son Ngakete "Nugget" George who is currently going to St Peters College in Auckland and he played in the First XV in 2020] . She is involved with playing and coaching Touch Rugby doing so with her children who are all talented sports people.

6. In 2019, as part of increased recognition of the outstanding involvement of Women's Rugby in this country, Teddy was formally presented with her "cap" by the New Zealand Rugby Union during a "capping ceremony" held in Auckland.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 38 First Class Games and scored 40 points 

F. Diane L. MALIUKAETAU

Date of Birth: Friday the 12th September 1986 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 131 and Marist Black Ferns Number 25

Position: Prop Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2005 and 2006 [6 games and scoring 5 points - 6 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended : Tangaroa College in Auckland   

​​​​​​​Provincial Team: Auckland from 2004 to 2006 [tbc'd games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 22nd October 2005 and was played against England at Auckland.

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 17th of September 2006 in the Final of the "2006 Rugby World Cup" and was played against England in Edmonton [Canada].

COMMENTS:

1. Originally playing her rugby as a No 8, Maliukaetau moved to the front row in 2004 and she quickly developed into an up-and-coming prop. Playing from our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland, she began to get noticed at higher levels for her ball playing skills and mobility while playing in the front row.

2. Maliukaetau played for Auckland at provincial level for each of the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons with her playing TBC'd games for the province as well as scoring tbc points. She was a member of the Auckland "Storm" team that won the "National Provincial Championship" in each of those years.

3. Following strong performances for Auckland in the 2004 Women’s NPC, Maliukaetau was first selected in New Zealand "Black Ferns" and she made her debut for the Black Ferns in 2005 playing in the two-Test series against England,... both of which were won.

4. Maliukaetau was then selected to be a member of the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team that went to the "2006 Rugby World Cup" held in the Canadian city of Edmonton and she played in four of the five matches at the tournament. At that tournament, she scored a try as part of a "forward rush" in the opening match of the tournament played against Canada that was won by 66 points to 7. As well as playing against Scotland in Pool play [won 21-0] and in the Semi-Final played against France [won 40-10], she played in the World Cup Final against England which was won by 25 points to 17... making New Zealand then three time champions on the Rugby World Cup.

5. Maliukaetau's last match for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" was in that Rugby World Cup Final and in total she played six [6] games in the famous "black jersey" with all of those games being Test Matches as well as all of them being victories.

6. Amongst other achievements, Maliukeaetau's was formally recognised for her outstanding achievements in rugby when she was named Tangaroa College's "Sportsperson of the Year" in 2005 and in 2019 [as part of increased recognition of the outstanding involvement of Women's Rugby in this country] she was formally presented with her "cap" by the New Zealand Rugby Union during a "capping ceremony" held in Auckland.

7. After Maliukaetau stopped playing rugby, she became involved with Coaching and she is most recently known in 2019 to have been coaching at college level in Auckland.

8. Maliukaetau currently lives and works in Auckland with her family... and is giving back to her sport.

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Karina Emily

PENETITO [now Stowers]

Date of Birth: Sunday the 2nd February 1986 in Auckland 

Black Ferns Number 127 and Marist Black Ferns Number 24

Position: Prop Forward and Hooker

BLACK FERNS in 2005 and from 2008 to 2011 [18 games - 17 Tests]

Biography:

Last School Attended: Tamaki College in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2004 to 2013, and 2017 [tbc'd games] [58 games and 40 points to 2014]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on Wednesday the 29th June 2005 and was played against Scotland at Ottawa [Canada] .

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on Saturday the 20th July 2013 and was played against England at Pukekohe.

COMMENTS:

1. Born in Auckland, Penetito first began playng rugby at school  as primarily a Loose Forward and she played for the First XV at Auckland's Tamaki College as well as played for the Development Team at the Tamaki Rugby Club when aged just 16-years-old [her father was playing in the Tamaki Club's Senior team].

2. Upon leaving school, Penetito began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland in 2004 as a Loose Forward and she ultimately moved in to play as a Hooker. After moving across the Front Row to play as a Prop Forward to respectfully make way for Fiao'o Fa'amausili, she played for our Marist Rugby Club throughout her career [with a gap of two seasons to have children]... playing her last season in 2018 [as part of the 10-side championship winning team] and playing well over 100 Premier games during that career at Club Rugby level.

3. Penetito was very proud to play for our Club, but she rated the Marist Premier Women's team of 2017 coached by JP Fa'amausili that won the Auckland Club Rugby Championship by defeating College Rifles in the Final as being the highlight of her Club rugby career. She considers this due to the fact that after Marist did not have sufficient players to form a team in 2015 and then not adequately providing for the reformed team in 2016 [losing every game] to then come back together to win the competition was "massive".

4. Penetito first played for Auckland at provincial level in 2004 season in an Auckland "Storm" team that was coached by Marist Black Fern Number 1, Davida White. She continued to play for Auckland through until 2017 [with a gap between 2014 and 2016] transitioning in to play Hooker for several season from 2005 and then she finished her career playing as a Prop Forward.

5. Penetito first played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" when after attending a "promising players camp" she was selected for the team that was to play at the "2005 Canada Cup" competition as a "utility front row forward able to play Hooker and Prop Forward". She made her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" during the Test Match played against Scotland in the Canadian city of Ottawa with the Black Ferns winning by 30 points to 9. She then played in two other games in that tournament as part of the New Zealand team that went on to win that competition. She played again for the Black Ferns in 2009, 2010 [including at the "2010 Rugby World Cup played in England], 2011, 2012, and the her last season wearing the famous "black jersey" was in 2013  with her playing her last game in the Test Match played against England in Pukekohe that the home team won by 29 points to 8. In all she played 18 times for the Black Ferns and 17 of that games were in Test Matches.

6. Penetito is currently working as Physical Education Teacher at Auckland Girls Grammar School where she also coaches rugby. She is married to former New Zealand age-group, Marist, Counties Manukau, Blues Super Rugby, and New Zealand Sevens player Sherwin Stowers with them having two children together... she says that they will definitely play rugby for Marist when the time comes. We at Marist greatly look forward to see what sort of players the kids of the Penetito and Stowers DNA will be... their parents were oustanding players so they have big boots to follow in playing in our Club's proud colours.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 78 games and scored tbc'd points [to 2013, but further research to confirm]

Inducted in 2021

Huriana R. MANUEL ​​​​​​​[now Manuel-Carpenter]

Date of Birth: ​​​​​​​Friday the 8th August 1986 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 126 and Marist Black Ferns Number 23

Position[s]: Centre Threequarter and Second Five-Eighth

BLACK FERNS from 2005 to 2010, and in 2014 [27 games and scoring 75 points - 25 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Unknown

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2004 to 2014 [TBA'd games and scoring TBA's points] [Note: 36 games and 60 points to 2008]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 29th June 2005 and was played against Scotland at Ottawa [Canada].

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on Saturday the 9th August 2014 and was played against USA at Marcoussis [France] at the "2014 Rugby World Cup".

COMMENTS: 

1. During her rugby career, Manuel played for New Zealand for both the New Zealand Black Ferns 15's and the New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens.

2. Manuel is of Maori descent with her affiliating to the Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngapuhi iwi. She is the daughter of former New Zealand "Black Ferns" player Liza Mihinui and at school she was a Halfback who was coached by her mother. However, it was only when she began playing [while school] for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland that she first started playing Second Five-Eighth. She was first selected to play for the Auckland provincial team while still at school and this made her at that time one of the youngest players ever to play provincial rugby in New Zealand.

3. Manuel's career advanced very quickly from her playing for Marist to her then being selected for her province of Auckland at the age of 17-years-old for whom she subsequently played both 15's and Sevens at national levels.

4. Within the very next season at the age of just 18-years-old, Manuel was selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" for the first time and she made her debut in the Test Match played against Scotland in Ottawa [Canada} which the Black Ferns won 30 points to 9. This Test Match was part of the "2005 Canada Cup" tournament and Black Ferns won this tournament

5. Significantly, Manuel being selected to play for the Black Ferns in 2005 meant that she and her mother became the first mother and daughter to both have played for the Black Ferns. 

6. After Manuel played her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns", further successes also followed​​​​ with the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" Team, and the Auckland 15's plus the Auckland Sevens teams.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

7. With the Black Ferns [who she played for until 2014], Manuel tasted success at the "Rugby World Cup" for the first time in 2006, she was again in the Black Ferns team that won the "Rugby World Cup" in 2010 [that year she was named in the World XV as the best Centre Threequater in the World], and she was also a member of the team that competed at "2014 Rugby World Cup" held in France.

8. As a member of the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" team, Manuel played for this team from 2008,. She was part of the team that won the "Rugby World Cup Sevens" in 2009, and she was the Captain of the Black Ferns Sevens in 2012, 2013, 2014. She was a member of the Black Ferns Sevens team that played at the "2016 Olympic Games" held in Rio De Janeiro [Brazil] and she was able to put a Silver Medal in her luggage brought back to New Zealand.

9. Last season [2019], Manuel played 15's for Ponsonby due to her husband [Derek Carpenter] being a player from that club and it was noted that she was still playing at a very high level leading into her mid-30's.​​​​​​​.. you are more than welcome back at Marist anytime Huriana.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 56 First Class games and scoring TBC'd points [to 2010, but further research to confirm]

Melodie M. NGATI [now Bosman]

Date of Birth: Saturday the 26th June 1976 in Wellington

Black Ferns Number 119 and Marist Black Ferns Number 22

Position: Prop Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2004 with Auckland, from 2005 with Waikato, 2006 to 2008 and 2011 with Hawkes Bay, and in 2009, 2010, and 2013 with Canterbury​​​​​​​ [TBCd games - 17 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended : St Marys College in Wellington

Provincial Teams: Wellington in 1990, Waikato from 1995 to 2000 and in 2005, Auckland from 2001 to 2004 [tbc'd games], Hawkes Bay 2006 and 2011  [4 games], and Canterbury in 2009, 2010, and 2013 [5 games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 8th June 2004 and was played against Canada at Vancouver [Canada]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the. 20th July 2013 and was played against England at Pukekohe.

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Ngatai was just 14-years-old and at Wellington's St Marys College when her father as coach of the Wellington Woemn's Team selected her as a Wing Threequarter for that team. She played for the Wellington team at the "ground breaking" tournament for Womens Rugby held in Christchurch where New Zealand Provincial teams played against overseas teams including from the United States of America, Russia, and Japan.

2. However, her "sport of choice" was Netball and Ngati played this at St Marys College with her becoming the Captain of the school's top team as well as achieving national age-grade honours in teams that included players who would go on to become New Zealand "Silver Ferns" legends; namely Waimarama Taumauna and Tanya Cox.

3.  TBC'd​​​​​​​

4. Rugby is not the only sport in which she has achieved - she held seven national discus records. 

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scoring TBC'd points

Aroha MOORE ​​​​​​​[now LAM]

Date of Birth: Saturday the 3rd June 1978 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 118 and Marist Black Ferns Number 21

Position: Fullback and Halfback

BLACK FERNS in 2004 [3 games - 3 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended : Manurewa High School in Auckland

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Counties Manukau from 1999 to 2003 [playing 14 games and scoring 20 points] and Auckland in 2004 [7 games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 8th June 2004 and was played against Canada at Vancouver [Canada]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 19th June 2004 and was played against England at Edmonton [Canada]

COMMENTS:

​​​​​​​1. Moore only started playing rugby the year after she left High School, but further to that she was actually heading with a friend to train with a Rugby League Club and at the last minute decided against that instead going to a rugby practice with the local Manurewa Rugby Club.

2. That was a great decision as in 1999 Moore was selected to play First Class rugby with the Counties Manukau team from where she played 14 games and scored four tries playing for that province until 2003.

3. Moore had been selected as a member of the Black Ferns’ Promising Players squad and she was developing into a fine halfback, but tragically she sufferred a series of serious knee injuries that stalled her career. First was a recurring injury to her right knee that required surgery and then in 2002 [as she was trialling for the New Zealand "Black Ferns"] she sufferred a serious injury to her left knee that also required surgery.

4. In 2004, Moore began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland and that season she was selected to play for Auckland at provincial level for the first time. She played in all seven games played by Auckland that season including playing for the "Lion Foundation Cup" in the Final of the "2004 National Provincial Championship". That match was played against Canterbury and was won 29 points to 10 with her scoring a try.

5. Due to Moore's excellent form for Auckland that season, she was selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" as a member of the team that travelled to Canada to compete in the "2004 Churchill Cup" tournament.

6. Moore made her "debut" for the Black Ferns against Canada that was played in Vancouver and she joined the match as a replacement with the Test being won by 32 points to 5.

7. Next, she played for the Black Ferns in the match played against the United States of America that was held in Calgary [Canada] and her third match was played against England at Edmonton [Canada]. The Black Ferns won both of those matches; 35 points to 0 against Canada and 38 points to 0 against England, and therefore won the "2004 Canada Cup".

8. Despite continuing to play rugby upon her return to New Zealand, Moore's playing career was limited due to ongoing issues with her knees and she retired from playing within a couple of seasons without again being selected to play for the Black Ferns.

9. Moore is now living in Australia where she lives and works with her family after marrying former New Zealand Touch Rugby player Rob Lam. Her son,  Izaiha Moore-Aiono, has been a member of the Development Program with England Rugby [where his father lives] while playing as a Loose Forward for the London Irish Rugby Club.

10. Moore was a gritty and skilful Halfback who overcame three serious knee injuries to deservedly be selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2004.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 24 First Class games and scoring TBC'd points

Justine LAVEA

Date of Birth: Tuesday the 10th July 1984 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 117 and Marist Black Fern Number 20

Position: Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS from 2004, 2005, and 2007 to 2014 with Auckland, and 2015 with Counties Manukau [35 games and scoring 20 points - 34 Tests]

Biography:

Last School Attended: Auckland Girls Grammar School in Auckland

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Auckland from 2000 to 2014 [75 games and scoring 55 points] and Counties Manukau from 2015 to tbc'd [25 games and scoring 25 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 8th June 2004 and was played against Canada at Vancouver [Canada]

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 9th July 2015 and was played against the USA in Edmonton [Canada]

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Lavea was identified as one of the country’s emerging loose forwards at the young age of just 16-years-old when she first played for Auckland in the "Lion Foundation Cup" competition in 2000.  

2. Aside from rugby, Lavea represented Auckland in softball at Under 13 and Under 17 ag group levels plus she then was also for the New Zealand Regional Under 17 side. 

3. Lavea first played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2004 at the age of just 19-years-old and she made her debut in the Test Match played against Canada in Vancouver that was part of that year's "Canada Cup" tournament.

She also played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" in 2009.

4. Lavea is the sister of Vaniya Lavea who also represented both Auckland and the Black Ferns.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 151 First Class games and scored TBC'd points [2014]​​​​​​​

Vaniya N. H. LAVEA [now Wolfgramm]

Date of Birth: Wednesday the 26th August 1981 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 115 and Marist Black Ferns Number 19

Position: First or Second Five-Eighth

BLACK FERNS in 2003, 2004, and 2007​​​​​​​ [4 games - 4 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School: Onehunga High School in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 2003 to 2009 [45 games and 20 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 11th October 2003 and was played against a World XV at Whangarei.

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the 20th October 2007 and was played against Australia at Porirua.

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Lavea began playing rugby while she was still at Onehunga College in Auckland in 1998 and she played for the Auckland Secondary Schools team from 1998 to 2000

2. After leaving school, Lavea started playing with our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland and she was a member of our Club's Women's team that won seven [7] "Coleman Shields" [awarded to the winners of the Auckland Club Rugby Champoinships] across the decade that she played in that competition for our Club.

3. Lavea was selected for the Auckland Women's B Team and then for the first time in the premier Auckland team in 2003. She played for the "Storm" through until 2009 playing 45 games while scoring 20 points during her provincial career.

4. Lavea was a versatile rugby player who could cover both first and second five-eighths. ​​​​​​​She had previously represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools mixed touch rugby side in 2000 as well as playing for the New Zealand University mixed touch team 2003.

5. Lavea made her debut for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" against the World XV side in 2003 for the  second game of that series. She had played for the World XV side in the previous game, but she was called into the Black Ferns due to injuries suffered by the Black Ferns players.

6. Lavea played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" in 2008 and she TBC'd.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 58 First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Hannah J. MYERS [now Porter]

Date of Birth: Friday the 28th September 1979 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 101* and Marist All Blacks Number 18 [* denotes that played for the Black Ferns from Marist from 2000 and therefore in sequence is Marist Black Fern Number 18]

Position:  Fullback, Wing Threequarter, and Centre Threequarter

BLACK FERNS in 2000 to 2002 with Otago and 2003 to 2006 as well as 2008 with Auckland [22 games and scored 169 points - 22 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Takapuna Grammar School in Auckland

Provincial Teams: Otago from tbc'd to 2001 [tbc'd games and scoring tbc'd points] and Auckland from 2002 to 2008 [19 game and 200 points] Total Points scored 344 points

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 27th September in 2000 and was played against the USA at Winnipeg [USA]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the TBC'd

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Porter started her First Class rugby career playing for the Otago provincial team from where she was first selected to play for our country. In 2003, she transferred to Auckland where she played for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland, but in her last season of provincial rugby in 2008 she played from the College Rifles club. 

2. After playing from our Club, Porter was selected to play for the Auckland "Storm" team and ultimately she played 19 games in the "blue and white hoops" until she retired as a player in 2008 having scoring 200 points for Auckland. By the end of her playing career, Porter had scored ​​298 career points at provincial level which was a record for several seasons.

3. Porter was first selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team in 2000 and her "debut" game was the Test Match played against the United States of America in Winnipeg [USA].

4. In 2003 Hannah was a nominee for New Zealand’s "Women’s Rugby Player of the Year" after having TBC'd.

5. During the 2005 international season, Porter played a leading role in the Black Ferns' "Canada Cup" tournament win and in the series defeat of England that same year. That season, she amassed 60 points to finish the 2005 season as New Zealand's top points scorer. ​​​​​​​

6. Porter played for the Black Ferns at two "Rugby World Cups" [in 2002 and 2006] with the New Zealand team being champions at both of the tournaments.

7. Porter played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" in 2000 and 2001 from Otago, and 2008 and 2009 [Captain] from Auckland.

8.  Tbc'd...

9. Porter was a very versatile player who could cover most of the positions in the backline on a rugby field and she was an accurate goal kicker too having had tutelage from former All Blacks First Five-Eighth Grant Fox.. 

10. Porter was the Team Manager of the New Zealand Black Ferns team in 2011 on their tour to England and again in 2012 on another tour to England. In 2017, she was the Campaign Manager for the Black Ferns team that won the "2017 Rugby World Cup" held in Ireland.

11. Porter is married to prominent Player Agent Simon Porter and they live in Auckland with their family.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 59 First Class games and scored 513 points

Fiao'o "Fi" FA'AMAUSILI

Date of Birth: ​​​​​​​Tuesday the 30th September 1980 in Apia [Western Samoa]

Black Ferns Number 108 and Marist Black Ferns Number 17

Position: Hooker

BLACK FERNS in 2002, 2003, and from 2005 to 2018 [58 Games and scoring 85 points - 33 Tests as Captain]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Aorere College in Auckland  

​​​​​​​Provincial Team: Auckland from 1999 to TBC'd [81 games and 145 points to 2014]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 18th May 2002 and was played against Australia at Barcelona [Spain] at the "2002 Rugby World Cup"

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 17th November 2018 and was played against France in Grenoble [France] at the "2018 Rugby World Cup"

COMMENTS: 

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Fa'amausili is the most capped Test Match player of all time for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" [as at the end of 2018],and she holds the record for having played in the most wins for the Black Ferns, for playing the most Test Matches as Black Ferns' Captain, and for being the scorer of the most tries for the Black Ferns as a Forward. She was also one of the first ever fully professionally contracted players for the Black Ferns .

2. Fa'amausili played her First Class Rugby at provincial level for Auckland and she made her debut for Auckland in 1999 as a Centre Threequarter, but after her father tragically died in 2001 she began playing initially as a Loose Forward before shifting to the position of Hooker from where she played for the remainder of her career.

3. Fa'amausili was first selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2002 and for seven of the first 10 Test Matches she was involved with she entered the games from "The Bench". She played at international level for the New Zealand Black Ferns continuously from 2002 through to 2018 [except for 2004 when she went to Australia to live before returning in 2005].

4. Fa'amausili was a member of the winning Black Ferns teams at the "Rugby World Cup" in 2002 held in Spain, in 2006 held in Canada, in 2010 held in England, and when she was the Captain in 2017 held in Ireland with New Zealand only "missing out" winning the tournament played in France during 2014. She was named as Captain of the Black Ferns for the first time in 2012 [2013, 2014 at the "Rugby World Cup", in 2015, ] with her being the Captain for the Black Ferns at the inaugural 2015 Women's "Rugby Super Series" held in Canada.

5. Fa'amausili was named as the New Zealand "Women's Player of the Year" in 2011. In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, Fa'amausili was appointed to be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit [ONZM] for "services to rugby" and this was the same year that she played for the Barbarians in a match played against England at London's Twickenham. 

6. In 2019, she was invited onto the voting panel for the World Rugby "Breakthrough Player of the Year "award.

7. Fa'amausili is a Police Officer working currently as a Detective in Auckland and in 2021 was named as the President of the Auckland Rugby Union [the first time that a woman had ever been placed into this role].

Total New Zealand Statistics: 118 First Class games and scoring 305 points [2014]

A MORE APPROPRIATE Hi-DEFINITION PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, BUT IS BEING ACTIVELY SOUGHT.

Halyn "Helen" VA'AGA [now ANNAFJEH]

Date of Birth: Thursday the 11th August 1977 in Auckland

Blacks Ferns Number 106 and Marist Black Ferns Number 16

Position: Prop Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006 ​​​​​​​[11 games and scoring 5 points - 10 Tests]

Biography:

Last School : McAuley Girls High School in Auckland 

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1997, 1999, 2001 to 2003, 2004 to 2007, and 2009 being the Team Captain in 2004, and 2006 [49 games and scored 25 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 13th May 2002 and was played against Germany at Barcelona [Spain] at the "2002 Rugby World Cup"

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the 17th September 2006 and was played against England in 2006 at Edmonton [Canada] at the "2006 Rugby World Cup"

COMMENTS: 

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Va'aga debuted for Auckland in 1997 and played regularly for the "Storm" ultimately played 54 games for the province while socring 25 points [5 tries]. She was the Captain of the "Storn" in 2004 and  2006 while also being the Captain of the Auckland B team that played in "Division Two North" of the 2005 Women’s NPC. 

2. Va'aga was first selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 2002 as a member of the team that went to Spain and went onto win [defend] the "Rugby World Cup". She made her "debut" in the match played against Germany that was won by 117 to 0 with Va'aga scoring her only points for her country through a try scored in the huge victory.

3. Upon returning to New Zealand, Va'aga returned to play for the Black Ferns squad playing twice against a World XV in 2003. However, she was not selected to play for them in 2004

4. In 2005, Va'aga played and captained the Auckland B team that played in the "North Island Second Division" of the "Women's national provincial Championship, and from this team she was selected to play for the Black Ferns in both Test Matches played by the tour England team.

5. Although not initiallyselected for the Black Ferns team to go to the "2006 Rugby World Cup" being held in Canada, such was her form in 2006, that when there was an injury to Melodie-Bosman [nee Ngati] she called in as a replacement playing three games.

6. That was the end of her career with the Black Ferns, but Va'aga continued to playing with the "Storm" in 2007 and in 2009 with her last game being against Canterbury in that year's Final of the "Women's National Provincial Campionship".

7. Living in Auckland, Va'aga is married [now with the surname of Annafjeh] and is working as a Teacher at Mary MacKillop Catholic School in Mangere.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 64 First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Tala MULIPOLA

Date of Birth: Wednesday the 3rd June 1981 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 100 and Marist All Black Number 15

Position: Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS in 2000, 2001, and 2003 [7 games and scoring 5 points - 7 Tests]

Biography:

Last School Attended: Aorere College in Auckland

​​​​​​​Provincial Team Auckland from 1999 to 2003 [tbc'd games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 23rd September 2000 and was played against Canada at Winnipeg [Canada]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns​​​​​​​ was on the

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Mulipola first made the Black Ferns in 2000 from the Auckland Province and playing out of the Auckland Marist Club. ​​She played 6 games for the Black Ferns, all of them Test Matches.

2. Black Ferns - try against the USA in 2000

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Annaleah M. RUSH ​​​​​​​[now BODLE]

Date of Birth: Thursday the 15th April 1976 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 76* and Marist Black Ferns Number 14 [* denotes that played for the Black Ferns from Marist from 2000 and therefore in sequence is Marist Black Fern Number 14]

Position: Centre Threequarter

BLACK FERNS from 1996 to 1999 with Otago and 2000 to 2002 with Auckland [20 games and scoring 156 points - 20 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Baradene College in Auckland

Provincial Teams: Otago from 1996 to 1999 [22 games] and Auckland from 2000 to 2002 [14 games] 

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 8th September 1996 and was played against Canada at St Albert

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 25th May 2002 and was played against England at Barcelona {Spain] at the "2002 Rugby World Cup"

COMMENTS: 

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Rush first made her First Class "debut" in 1996 playing for the Otago provincial team out of the University Club before moving to Auckland in 2000 to play for our Marist Club where her brother, Xavier, was also playing. ​​​She was a prolific pointscorer at provincial level and she scored 42 points in a match for Otago in 1999, 8 tries in a Match for Otago in 1999, and kicked 6 penalties in one Match playing for Auckland in 2001.

2. Rush made her "debut" for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1996 [from Otago] and by the time she had retired she had played 20 games for the Black Ferns and all of them Test Matches. She scored 156 points in those Test matches for the Black Ferns that included successfully kicking 37 conversions during her career, scoring 3 tries in one Test Match played against Canada in 1996, successfully kicked three penalties in one Test Match against Australia in 1997, and twice successfully kicking seven conversions in one Test Match; the first against England in 1997 and the second against Germany in 1997. She played at the "Rugby World Cups" held in 1998 and 2002.

3. Rush played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" team that played at the "2000 Hong Kong Sevens" with her scoring 3 tries during each of three games at the tournament plus scored 11 tries in 7 games she played, and in 2001 she played at two of three tournaments that season including at the "Hong Kong Women's Sevens"

4. Rush held that record for the "Most Successive Test Matches" for the Black Ferns at 18 with our own Hirovana'a [as at 2001] and she w​​​​as the New Zealand "Women's Player of the Year" in 2001. She still holds the record for scoring the most tries in a domestic rugby match in New Zealand when she scored  8 tries in the one match in tbc'd.

5. Rush is a trained Teacher and she has a Masters Degree in Education. She currently lives in tbc'd.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 40 First Class Games and scoring 278 points

Victoria L. "Vicky" HEIGHWAY

Date of Birth: Friday the 28th November 1980 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 96 and Marist Black Ferns Number 13 

Position: Lock Forward

BLACK FERNS from 2000 to 2010 [32 games and scored 10 points - 32 Tests with 2 as Captain]

​​​​​​​Biography: ​​​​​​​

Last School Attended: Rosehill College in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 1998 to 2010 [58 games and 40 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 23rd September 2000 and was played against Canada at Winnipeg [Canada]

-  Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 5th October 2010 and was played against England at London in the Final at the "2010 Rugby World Cup"

COMMENTS: 

1. Heighway made her "debut" for Auckland in 1998 before becoming a towering presence [at 182cms in height] in the second row of the New Zealand "Black Ferns" right from making her international debut against Canada in 2000 and throughout her highly successful career that ended when she was a member of the Black Ferns team that defeated England in London to win the Final of the "2010 Rugby World Cup". 

2. Heighway was a member of the Black Ferns winning teams in 2002, 2006, and 2010 at the "Rugby World Cups".

3. Heighway was nominated three times for New Zealand’s "Women’s Player of the Year " [in 2001, 2002 and 2004, but then was named the New Zealand "Women's Rugby Player of the Year" in 2007 and in 2009.

4.  Heighway scored 10 points in Test rugby for the Black Ferns that were scored in consecutive Tests in 2006 played within five days of each other. In 2005 Heighway missed part of the season because of injury, but she recovered in time to take on England in a two-Test Series played at home. ​​​​​​​

5. ​​​​​​​On two occasions Heighway was the Captain for the Black Ferns, both in 2009 [when she was the Season's Team Captain] and in Test Matches played against England. She only ever played in two losing Tests for the Black Ferns with both defeats being to England [one in 2001 and the other was one of the Tests when she was captain in 2009].

6. After the "2010 Rugby World Cup", Heighway went to play and work overseas before settling to live in Australia where she still currently lives with her family.

7. Heighway holds a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Sport and Exercise Science as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science. However, after having grown an interest in architecture, she completed a National Diploma in Quantity Surveying and she currently lives in Sydney working for a construction company.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 90 First Class games and scoring 15 points

Adrianne P. LILI'I ​​​​​​​[now Leaoasavai'i]

Date of Birth: Monday the 9th November 1970 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 92 and Marist Black Ferns Number 12

Position: Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS from 1999, 2001 to 2005 with Auckland and 2000 with Waikato [tbc'd games and scored 5 points - 12 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Marcellin College in Auckland

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1997 to 2005 [tbc'd games] and Waikato in 2000 [tbc'd games]

- New Zealand Black Fern Debut was on the 16th October 1999 and was played against Canada at Palmerston North

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

1. Lili'i was a flanker with a high work rate.

2. Lili'i came to international prominence in 1999 and was a part of the Black Ferns’ triumphs at the "Canada Cup" in 2000 and the "Rugby World Cup" in Barcelona in 2002.

3. Lili'i admired the play of All Black Richie McCaw and Australia’s George Smith and lists one of her heroes as team mate Anna Richards because of “her commitment to the game.”

4. Lili'i said “knowing that I am alive” motivates her while being part of the Black Ferns’ World Cup winning side in 2002 rates as her best personal sporting achievement.

Married and now has the surname of Leaoasavai'i.

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

L. Brigitta LOTU-I'IGA

Date of Birth: Friday the 9th February 1968 in Apia [Western Samoa}

Black Ferns Number 88 and Marist Black Ferns Number 11

Position: Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS in 1998​​​​​​​ [5 games - 5 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland

​​​Provincial Team : Auckland from 1996 to 1999 from Marist and then 2000 to 2003 from College Rifles [TBC'd games and points scored], North Harbour in 2004. from College Rifles, and then for Counties Manukau 

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 2nd May 1998 and was played against Germany at Amsterdam [Netherlands] at the "1998 Rugby World Cup".

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the 29th August 1998 and was played against Australia in Sydney.

COMMENTS:

​​​​​​​1. Lotu-I'iga was born in Samoa where she lived with her family until migrating to New Zealand with her family in the 1970's. She had a significant touch rugby, netball, and athletics background prior to starting to play rugby when convinced by her then boyfriend to play contact rugby.

2. This boyfriend was then coaching at our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland and Lotu-I'iga started playing her club rugby initially as a Wing Threequarter [which was consistent with her previous sporting background] before transitioning up the playing numbers to become a Loose Forward. She was part of Marist Premier teams that won the "Coleman Shield" as the Champions of Auckland Club Rugby in 1993 [drawing with Ponsonby in the Final 0-0 all even after playing extra time], in 1994, in 1995, and in 1996. 

3. Lotu-I'iga first played for the Auckland provincial team known as the "Storm" as a player who could cover Fullback, Wing, and Centre before switiching to play Loose Forward due to her "desire for a greater challenge" [her own words] . She also appeared in the colours of our northern and southern neighbours, North Harbour and Counties Manukau, in the later stages of her playing career.​​​​​​​

4. Lotu-I'iga switch to play Loose Forward was a "masterstroke" as she earned a place in three New Zealand Black Fern trial matches of 1998 to select the Black Ferns team to play at the "1999 Rugby World Cup" to be played the Netherlands.

5. After playing in the Trial Matches, Lotu-I'oga  was selected for the first time to play for the New Zealand Black Ferns Team at the "1998 Rugby World Cup". She played five [5] games for the Black Ferns at that tournament and all of her appearances in the famous "black jersey" being Test Matches.. She made her debut for the Black Ferns in the match played against Germany in Amsterdam. Starting the match from "The Bench", she ran on to be a member of the Black Ferns team that won that day by 134 points to 6.

6. Lotu-I'iga then appeared when she started the match played against Spain at that tournament that was won by 46 points to 3. Next she came into two more games from "The Bench" that were played against England [won by 44 points to 11] and then the match played against United States of America [won by 44 points to 12]... this game against the USA being the Final of "Rugby World Cup"!

6. Lotu-I'iga played one more game for the Black Ferns and that was in the Test Match played against Australia in Sydney... won 27-3. This victory by the Black Ferns meant that she played in five games for the Black Ferns that were all Test Matches, that she played in a Final of a "Rugby World Cup", that was won by her team and that she was not ever in a losing Black Ferns team. 

7 Lotu-I'iga was formally recognised recently when she was presented with her "cap" in 2019 as part of New Zealand Rugby's further fuller recognition of the massive contribution that women's rugby has had and continues to have in our country as well as around the world.

8. Lotu-I'iga had until recently been working as part of the Cabin Crew with Air New Zealand, but is currently self-employed and living primarily in Auckland with her family. Interestingly, her brother, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, is a former Minister of Parliament in New Zealand as well as prior to that being a City Councillor having been elected onto the Auckland City Council.

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Tammi WILSON [now ULUINAYAU]

Date of Birth: Saturday the 29th September 1973 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 85 and Marist Black Ferns Number 10

Position: Fullback

BLACK FERNS from 1998 to 2002 [14 games and scoring 196 points including 21 tries  - 14 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Auckland Girls Grammar School in Auckland

Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1997 to 2003 [tbc'd games and scoring 263 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut on the 2nd May 1998 and was played against Germany at Amsterdam [Netherlands]

COMMENTS:

STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

Wilson was first selected for the Black Ferns in 1998 from the Auckland Province and playing out of the Auckland Marist Club. Tammi played 16 games for the Black Ferns and all of them were Test Matches. Auckland - most total points scored in one season at 101 in 1999, most conversions successfully kicked in one season at 27 in 1999, and the most conversions successfully in a match with 13 kicked against North Harbour in 1999.

Black Ferns - 36 points in one match scored against the USA in 1999 [6 tries and three conversions] and 30 points in one match scored against Germany in 1998 [4 tries and 5 conversions] on her Black Ferns debut, played every game of the "1998 Rugby World Cup" scoring seven tries amongst 51 total points, and she also played at the "2002 Rugby World Cup" with both tournaments won by New Zealand.

Black Ferns Sevens at the "2000 Hong Kong Sevens".

As well as playing 15's and Sevens for New Zealand in rugby, Wilson also represented our country in Tocuh and Rugby League. She is still involved with rugby in New Zealand as a Board Member of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.

Married Alfred "Alf" Uluinayau a former Auckland provinvial player who also played in an All Black Trial and then played 35 games for Fiji as a Fullback from 1996 to 2003 including at the "1999 Rugby World Cup" held in the United Kingdom and France. Uluinayau is currently coaching our Club's Under 20's team [in 2020].

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 45 First Class games and scored 459 points including 40 tries

Dianne M. T. KAHURA

Date of Birth: Thursday the 1st May 1969 in Hamilton

Black Ferns Number 84 and Marist Black Ferns Number 9

Position: Wing Threequarter

BLACK FERNS from 1998 to 2000 and in 2002 [12 games and scoring 95 points including 19 tries - 12 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School: Hauraki Plains College in Ngatea [just north of Paeroa in the Waikato/Coromandel Area]

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1997 to 2002 [23 games and scoring 170 points from 34 tries]

- New Zealand Black Fern Debut was on the 2nd May 1998 and was played against Germany at Amsterdam [Holland] at the "1998 Rugby World Cup" scoring four [4] tries on "debut"

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns​​​​​​​ was on the 25th May 2002 and was played against England in Barcelona [Spain} in the Final of the "2002 Rugby World Cup" 

COMMENTS:

​​​​​​​1. Kahura was a high quality touch rugby player [she actually represented New Zealand in Touch Rugby] who was playing in a touch team known as "Nuplex" that included Marist Black Ferns Monique Hirovana'a and Suzy Shortland in 1996 when they convinced her to start playing rugby. After attending training with our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland, she was quickly identified as being a speedster who loved to score tries and she ultimately played all of her Club rugby from our proud Club.

2. Such was her quick rise to prominence in the sport, Kahura was selected to be a member of an "unofficial"  New Zealand team that competed as the "Wild Ducks" and won the first ever "Hong Kong Sevens" in 1997 defeating the USA team in the Final with her scoring four [4] tries in that match. She was later a part of New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" teams in 2000 and 2001 that were highly successful going through those years with a 22 win and no losses record including winning the "Hong Kong Sevens" both years. At the "Hong Kong Women's Sevens" in 2000 she scored 9 tries in 7 games, and in 2001 she scored 15 tries in 15 games during three tournaments that year including playing at the "Hong Kong Women's Sevens", 

3. Kahura first played at provincial level for Auckland as a member of the "Storm" in 1997 and she played for them through until 2002 with her playing 23 games as well as scoring 170 points through 34 tries. Until 2012, she held the record for scoring 14 tries in one season at provincial level in New Zealand and she was a member of Auckland teams that won the "National Provincial Championship" from 1999 to 2002 and she was never in a losing Auckland team.

4. Kahura was first selected to be a member of the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1998 and this was for the Black Ferns team that was to compete at the "1998 Rugby World Cup" held in Holland. She played her "debut" match against Germany in the opening match of the tournament and she marked the occasion by scoring four [4] tries in an outstanding win by 136 points to 6. The Black Ferns went on to be crowned as "World Champions" at that tournament defeating the team from the United States of America in the Final by 44 points to 12 and she got "game time" coming on as replacement during the match.

5. Upon returning back to New Zealand, Kahura played in the next five [5] Test Matches for the Black Ferns in 1999 and 2000 [scoring three tries in a Test Match played against England] before taking a year off in 2001 [although she played for the Black Ferns Sevens that season]. 

6. However in 2002, Kahura rejoined the Black Ferns and she was selected as a member of the team to compete at the "2002 Rugby World Cup" to be held in the Netherlands with her again playing in the opening match of the tournament played again against Germany where she again scored four [4] tries in another massive win for the "team in black" by 117 points to 0. The Black Ferns were again crowned as "World Champions" when they defeated England in the Final by 19 points to 9.

7. That was to be Kahura's last match for the Black Ferns and in total she played 12 games for that team and all of them were Test Matches... and she was never in a losing Black Ferns team plus twice being part of "Rugby World Cup" winning "World Champion" teams. She had scored 19 tries during that career with the Black Ferns including scoring four [4] tries in one match twice both times against Germany in 1998 and 2002, three [3] tries in one match once against England in 2000 as previously mentioned, and also twice scoring two tries in a Test Match; against Spain in 1998 and against Canada in 2000.

8. Since retiring from playing, Kahura has been involved in Coaching and Managing a variety of sports teams at Tauranga Girl's College. Currently living and working in Tauranga, she is currently running an architecture business.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 35 First Class games and scored 265 points from 53 tries

Suzanne "Suzy" 

SHORTLAND [now Theodore]

Date of Birth: Wednesday the 23rd January 1974 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 79 and Marist Black Ferns Number 8

Position: 2nd Five Eighth

BLACK FERNS from 1997 to 2002​​​​​​​ [19 games and scoring 20 points - 19 Tests]

Biography:

Last School Attended: Papatoetoe High School in Auckland 

​​​​​​​Provincial Team: Auckland 1996 to 2006 [36 games - without defeat]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 13th August 1997 and was played against England at Burnham [Christchurch].

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the 25th May 2002 and was played against England in Barcelona [Spain] in the Final of the "2002 Rugby World Cup".

COMMENTS:

1. After leaving school, Shortland played a few games with the Otahuhu Rugby Club around her touch rugby playing commitments, but four years later when she joined our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland her rugby playing career started "to blossom". Significantly, she was a member of the Marist team that first won the "Coleman Shield" for winning the "Auckland Provincial Club Championship" in 1999.

2. Shortland made her "debut" for Auckland in 1996 and she ultimately played 31 games for the "Storm" through until she retired in 2006. She was a member of the Auckland team that won the first official "National Provincial Championship" in 1999 and she was a member of Auckland teams that won that competition six times during her playing career that ended in 2006.

3. Shortland was first selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1997 and she made her "debut" game in the Test Match played against England in Christchurch joining the match from "The Bench" in a 67 points to 0 victory for the team in black.

4. Shortland represented the Black Ferns at two "Rugby World Cup's"; the first held in 1998 in Holland [the first offical "Rugby World Cup"] and at the second held in 2002 in Spain. She played in every game for the Black Ferns at both of those "Rugby World Cups" and she was a member of the teams that won both of those competitions.

5. Shortland was named as the New Zealand "Women's Player of the Year" in 1999 after having been a member of the Black Ferns "Rugby World Cup" team, the Auckland team that won the "National Provincial Championship", and the Marist team that won the "Auckland Club Championship" that season.

7. Shortland played for the "Black Ferns Sevens" at the "2000 Hong Kong Sevens" as well as being a member of teams in both 2000 and 2001 competing in four tournaments while winning all 33 games.

8. Shortland at the time of her retirement from playing rugby had played 19 games for the Black Ferns with all of them being Test Matches and there being only one defeat [by England at Albany in 2001]. She had scored four tries; one each against Germany in 1998, Canada in 1999, United States of America in 1999, and Germany in 2002.

9. Shortland is currently working as an Administrator in the Banking Sector and interestingly her grandfather, Wiwa "Bill" Shortland, was a Maori All Black who played as a Halfback.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 53 First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Bella Marie TAHU

Date of Birth: Friday the 7th August 1970 in Te Kopuru [Northland]

Black Ferns Number 71 and Marist Black Ferns Number 7

Position: Lock Forward

BLACK FERNS in 1996 ​​​​​​​[3 games]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School : Dargaville High School in Northland

Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1994 to 1996 [tbc'd games and points] and Auckland Development Team in 1997.

- New Zealand Black Fern Debut was on the 31st August 1996 and was played against Australia at Sydney.

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 14th September 1996 and was played against France at Edmonton [Canada].

COMMENTS:

1. Tahu was tall at 6 foot 3 inches in height and accordingly her initial "sport of choice" was basketball with her representing Wellington at provincial level until 1990 when she sufferred a serious ACL knee injury that despite surgery ended her basketball career. In fact. it was so bad that even after rehabilitation that she completed in 1991, the surgeon told her that she would never play any sport at that level ever again.

2. The following year and now living in Auckland, Tahu was encouraged to play rugby by her flatmates. She initially played with the Roskill Districts Club and then in 1993 she began playing as a Lock Forward for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland.

3. Playing for Marist in that first season, Tahu was a member of the team that played arch rivals Ponsonby in the "1993 Auckland Club Rugby Final" in a match that was drawn 0-0 [even after 20 minutes of extra time] meaning that they shared the "Auckland Club Championship". Then in 1994 and 1995, she was a member of the Marist teams that won the Club Championship outright.

4. Tahu first played at provincial level for Auckland in 1994 and she continued to play for them until 1996 ultimately playing tbc'd games for them during that time. She also played for the Auckland Development Team in 1997 that also played in the National Provincial Championship.

5. Tahu was selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1996 and she made her "debut" in the Test Match played against Australia in Sydney that the Blacks Ferns won by 28 points to 5.

6. Then Tahu was selected as a member of the Black Ferns team that was to compete at the "1996 Canada Cup" tournament and at that tournament she played in the matches against the United States of Amercia [won by 86 points to 8] and against France [won by 109 to 0] with both games played in the Canadian city of Edmonton.

​​​​​​​7. Tahu stopped playing rugby a short time after returning from that tournament with her having played three games for the Black Ferns [all of them being Test Matches] and although her time at the top of Women's Rugby was limited, she made her mark as she remains the tallest player to have played for our country.

8. After ending her playing career, Tahu worked for several years as a Sports Massage Therapist working with Rugby League teams including the Warriors NRL and Under 20's teams, the New Zealand "Kiwis" team, at the "2010 Four Nations" Tournament [working with the United Kingdom and NZ Maoris teams], and with several other NRL teams. She is now working as an Administrator with a local company in Auckland where she still lives. For the trivia buffs, interestingly former All Blacks brothers Eddie and Ian Dunn are her cousins.

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Nara M. A. SUA [now Clavelle]

Date of Birth: 28th September 1969 in Whanganui

Black Ferns Number 70 and Marist Black Ferns Number 6

Position: Centre Threequarter

BLACK FERNS in 1996 ​​​​​​​[2 games and scoring 5 points - 2 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended : Whanganui High School in Whanganui 

​​​​​​​Provincial Teams: Otago in 1992 and 1993, and Auckland from 1994 to 2001 [tbc'd games]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 31st August 1996 and was played against Australia at Sydney.

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns ​​​​​​​was on the 14th September 1996 and was played against France at Edmonton [Canada]

COMMENTS:

1. Su'a grew up in Whanganui and after attending the city's High School, she moved to Dunedin in 1991 where started studying to become a teacher at Otago University. It was while there in Dunedin that she first began playing rugby for the Alambra Union Club for who she was a hard tackling Centre Threequarter. Her progression in the game was rapid [to say the least] with her playing the first of her games of "First Class" rugby with the Otago provincial team in 1992 and 1993.

2. After a brief stint back in Whanganui, Su'a came to Auckland and she linked up with our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland. It was while at Marist that she came under the coaching guidance of future Black Ferns Coaches Darryl Suasua and Mike Casey with whom she was part of Marist teams that won the Auckland Club Championship in 1994 and 1995.  

3. Su'a first played for Auckland in 1996 as a Centre Threequarter, but by 1999 she had changed from playing in the backs to become a very hard hitting Loose Forward.

4. Su'a ​played for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1996  as a Centre Thrreequarter with her playing two [2] games for the Black Ferns which were both Test Matches as part of the Team's North American Tour.

5. Su'a made her "debut" for the Black Ferns in the Test Match played against Australia in Sydney [Australia] that was won by 28 points to 5 [alongside her clubmate and close friend Shannon Andrew].

6. The second Test Match that Su'a played was part of the "1998 Canada Cup" tournament held in Edmonton [Canada] and this game was played against France. The Black Ferns won by a resounding 109 points to 0 with Su'a scoring a try. Sensationally, Winger Vanessa Coutts scored a remarkable world record nine [9] tries playing outside her. Sadly, this was to be Su'a's last match for New Zealand. Following the tour, she returned to Canada where she met her husband and they lived there for six years with Nara teaching mathematics. Significantly, her best mate Shannon Andrew was her bridesmaid as was she for Shannon when she later married.

7. After a spell in Italy where she converted to become a much feared hard tackling Loose Forward, she returned to New Zealand and trialled for the Black Ferns in 2002 with it described that she was "awfully close" to being selected. This was for the Black Ferns team that was preparing for the "2002 Rugby World Cup", but she snapped her achilles during the "beep test" with the "snap" described as being "very loud" and that was the end of her attempts to play again at international level rugby.

8. Following surgery and associated recovery, Su'a continued to play for Auckland until the end of the 2003 season and remarkably she was a member of Auckland "Storm" teams that won the Women's "National Provincial Championship" every year that she played for her province.

8. Su'a currently lives and works in Auckland as a School Teacher, and interestingly [for the trivia fanatics] former New Zealand "Black Cap" Cricketer Murphy Su'a is her Uncle.

Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Shannon R. ANDREW [now Rex]

Date of Birth: Thursday the 19th October 1972 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 66 and Marist Black Ferns Number 5

Position: Wing Threequarter

BLACK FERNS in 1996 ​​​​​​​[2 games - 2 Tests]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: St Marys College in Auckland

Provincial Teams: Otago in 1993 and 1994 [TBC'd games and scored TBC'd points], Auckland in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000 [TBC'd games and scored TBC'd points] and North Harbour in 2000 [TBC'd and scored TBC'd]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 31st August 1996 and was played against Australia at Sydney.

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 14th September 1996 and was played against France at Edmonton [Canada] at the "1996 Canada Cup".

COMMENTS:

1. Andrews was from a sporting family that were primarily Rugby League and Basketball focussed with her playing Basketball to such a standard that she played at provincial level for Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Otago during her career in that sport [her older sister, Vanessa, played Basketball for New Zealand and did so first when aged only 16-years-old]. 

2. Andrew studied at Otago University in Dunedin and at at the encouragement of a friend [Marist Black Fern No 6 Nara Su'a], she began playing Rugby in 1993 as well as continuing with her Basketball. Playing on the Wing, she played for the Alhambra Union Club [alongside Su'a] and in one season she scored over 100 points with her also playing for Otago at provincial level that season as well as in 1994.

3. Upon returning to Auckland and playing from our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland under the coaching of Darryl Suasua and Michael "Machine" Casey, Andrew first played for Auckland in 1995. Subsequently, she played for Auckland again in 1996, in 1998, and as well as for them in the last few games of 2000 [after having earlier supported the struggling North Harbour team].

2. Playing as a Wing Threequarter, Andrew played in her "debut" match for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in the Test Match played against Australia in Sydney in 1996. This match was won by the Black Ferns with the final score being 28 points to 5 and playing inside her at Centre Threequarter was her Marist Clubmate and great friend, the previously mentioned Su'a, who was also making her "debut".

3. Andrew was then selected to be a member of the Black Ferns team that travelled to Canada to compete in the "1996 Canada Cup". She played in the Test Match against France held at Edmonton and this match was won by 109 points to 0 with Andrew's team-mate Vanessa Cootes on the opposite Wing scoring a remarkable nine tries.

4. Andrew played for Auckland again in 1998, but she did not again gain selection for the Black Ferns after breaking her collarbone that season during an event that she descibed as being "heartbreaking". 

5. At the end of the 1998 season, Andrew left New Zealand and lived in Great Britain for some time. However, she returned briefly to New Zealand in 2001 and 2002 playing from North Harbour in an attempt to make the Black Ferns team to compete at the "2002 Rugby World Cup". However when this effort was unsuccessful, with her very narrowly missing selection she returned to the UK where she is currently living.

6. Andrew is currently living in the United Kingdom working as qualified teacher in education as the "Head of the PE Department" at Holy Cross in London and her relationship with Sua has endured with them both being the bridesmaids at each others weddings. Notably, her grandmother is the first cousin of All Black and Rugby Legend Sir Bryan Williams

7. As part of the "capping" process for Black Ferns that is being completed by New Zealand Rugby, Andrew was presented with her Cap in a ceremony held at Eden Park in 2019. She was regarded as being a player with great speed and with great finishing ability that she used to great effect in the two Test Matches in 1996 that she played [both won] and that she could have used further if not for narrowly just missing selection for the Black Ferns' team that were at the Rugby World Cups in 1998 and 2002.

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: TBC'd games and scored TBC'd points

Moetapapa Eliza "Liza" MIHINUI

Date of Birth: 20th November 1960 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 60 and Marist Black Ferns Number 4

Position: Hooker

BLACK FERNS in 1994 ​​​​​​​[2 games]

Biography: 

Last School Attended : Mangere College in Auckland

Provincial Team: Auckland from 1992 to 1996 [tbc'd games and tbc'd points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 26th August 1994 and was played against Australian Capital Territories [ACT] in Camberra [Australia]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns Debut as on the 29th August 1994 and was played against New South Wales at Richmond [Australia]

COMMENTS:

1. Born and educated in Auckland, Mihinui joined the Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland during the 1992 season and she found her place in the Marist Women's team playing as a Hooker.

2. The Marist Women's team was coached by then future New Zealand Black Ferns Coach, Darryl Suasua, and in this environment Mihinui grew her passion for the game of rugby at a time she was looking for an "outlet" away from being a working solo-mother bringing up four children [one of who was then future Black Ferns player Huriana Manuel]. Work for her was completing 6pm to 2am shift at her printing firm and she took annual leave as half-days during the rugby season to enable her to get to training.

3. At provincial level, Mihinui first played for the Auckland Women's team in 1992 and she continued her involvement with that team until 1996 before being a player in the Auckland "Emerging Players" team that also competed with outstanding success in the "1997 National Provincial Championship". She was part of the very successful Auckland "Storm" team that went undefeated for 71 games from 1994 to 2006.

4. In 1994, Mihinui at the age of 32-years-old was selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" team and this was for the team that toured Australia. This tour comprised of playing three games [including a Test Match against Australia] and Mihinui made her "debut" in the match on that tour played against Australian Capital Territories [ACT] in Camberra [won by 87 points to nil] and then she played in the next match played against New South Wales that was held in the New South Wales township of Richmond [about 65 kilometres away from Sydney]. The Black Ferns won this game by 85 points to 0. She was a Reserve in the Test Match played against Australia in Sydney that was won by 37 points to nil, but she did not get any "game time".

5. Upon returning back to New Zealand, Mihinui was involved with the Auckland provincial team through until 1997. As previously mentioned, her involvement in 1997 related to her playing for the "Auckland Emerging Players" team that played in that season's "National Provincial Championship" along side the "Storm". However, she was not again selected to play for New Zealand as the rising player in her position was a youngster named Farah Palmer [now Dame Dr Farah Palmer] and she [palmer} went onto become one of the very greats of World Rugby.

6. Upon retiring from playing rugby, Mihinui became a very successful Coach at Mangere High School in South Auckland with the team winning four Auckland First XV Championships and this included coaching her "rising star" of a daughter named Huriana Manuel while she was still at school.

7. When her daughter Huriana was subsequently first selected  to play for the New Zealand Black Ferns in 2005, Mihinui and her daughter became the first "Mother and Daughter" ever selected to play for the New Zealand Black Ferns. It is also widely considered that they were the first ever to be selected to play rugby for the same nation anywhere in the world and this means that Mihinui holds a special place in New Zealand Rugby [and World Rugby] history. She has continued to give back to our proud Club as a highly valued and selfless volunteer in a number of capacities at our club... we are honoured to have you as part of our Club.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 21 games

Regina SHECK

Date of Birth: Sunday the 9th November 1969 in Tokoroa

Black Ferns Number 58 and Marist Black Ferns Number 3

Position: Prop Forward

BLACK FERNS from 1994 to 1998 with Auckland and from 1999 to 2004 with Waikato [26 games and scoring 25 points - 25 Tests]

Biography:

Last School Attended: Tokoroa High School in Tokoroa [Waikato]

Provincial Teams: Auckland from 1993 to 1998 as well as in 2007 [TBC'd games] and Waikato from 1999 to 2006 being the Captain in 2001 and 2004 as again playing for them in 2012 [40 games and 20 points]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 26th August 1994 and was played against A.C.T. at Canberra [Australia]

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 19th June 2004 and was played against England at Edmonton [Canada]

COMMENTS:

1. Sheck grew up in Tokoroa with four brothers and a sister from where she played football [soccer] and softball for waikato winning a National Title in 1989 playing for the Waikato "Women's Football team as a Goalkeeper.

2. Sheck turned to play rugby in 1992 for the Putaruru Women's Team from where she was selected to play for the Waikato Provincial team as either a First Five-Eighth or in the Midfield.

3. By then a Constable in the New Zealand Police, she was stationed in Auckland and in 1993 she wanted to play for our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland. However, after ringing the club several times without getting any response [the Club did not then have an answer machine!] so she went to our arch rivals... Ponsonby.  After a month of apparently "holding the tackle bags" for the Club at Western Springs, she came to training at Marist and that became her home. That season, she switched to play as a Number 8, but in 1994 at a time there was a lack of quality Prop Forwards across the country, she was "strongly encouraged" to play in that position to progress her career. Under some initial quality coaching from Michael "Machine" Casey at Marist, she developed into a player who could pack down at either loosehead or tighthead Prop. Her progress in that position in 1994 was such that she was the Marist team's leading tryscorer in the forwards with 19 as Marist won the "Brian Thomas trophy" outright for the first time. 

4. At provincial level playing from our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland, Sheck initially played for Auckland from 1993 until 1998. She played another one more season for Auckland in 2007 playing from the College Rifles club, but she played the majority of her playing career back at her "home" province of Waikato.

5. Sheck was first selected to play for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1994 on that team's tour of Australia. She played her "debut" game against the A. C. T. team that held in the Australian Capitai City of Canberra in a match that was won by 87 points to 0. She did not play in the Test Matches on that tour and this was to be her only game for the Black Ferns until 1996 as in 1995 she tore her ACL just three weeks before the Black Ferns' Trial match which required surgery... ruling her out of the season with the Black Ferns and out of all rugby for the remainder of that 1995 season.

6. Once fully recovered, Sheck played in her first Test Match for the Black Ferns in the match played against Canada held in St Albert [Canada] in 1996 and this was part of the "1996 Canada Cup" tournament that was won by the Black Ferns. The Black Ferns won this Test Match by 88 points to 3. She played in many top international competitions during her career with the Black Ferns, including the "Canada Cup" tournaments held in 1996 and 2000 [both won by New Zealand], the "Tri Nations" tournament held in 1999 [won by New Zealand], and at the 1998 and 2002 "Rugby World Cup" tournaments [both won by New Zealand] with her recorded as saying that being a member of the team that won the Final of the "1998 Rugby World Cup" in the Netherlands being her best personal sporting achievement... she scored two tries in the match played against Germany that was won by 134 points to 6!

7. Now a former Police Officer and as a longtime teacher aide at Tangaroa College, Sheck is currently working in variety of roles including for "blue Light" [an organisation that works with Police to "empower youth" and in the Security Industry.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 72 First Class games and scored TBC'd points

Monique J. HIROVANA'A

Date of Birth: Wednesday the 25th May 1966 at Auckland

Black Ferns Number 56 and Marist Black Ferns Number 2

Position: Fullback and Halfback

BLACK FERNS from 1994 to 2002 [24 games and scoring 90 points through 18 tries]

​​​​​​​Biography:

Last School Attended: Tangaroa College in Auckland 

Provincial Team: Auckland from 1994 to 2003 [38 games and scoring 110 points including 22 tries]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 26th August 1994 and was played against A.C.T. at Canberra [Australia]

- Last Match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 25th May 2002 and was played against England at Barcelona [Spain} in the Final of the "2002 Rugby World Cup".

COMMENTS:

1. From a young age, Hirovana'a was a sportsperson who achieved highly in any sport she took her hand to. She started playing rugby in 1991, but before that she had represented Auckland in basketball, netball, and touch rugby.

2. Hirovana'a played for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland and she was part of the Club's 1993 team that won the Auckland Women's Club Championship for the first time ever when they shared the "Barry Thomas Trophy". She was a member of that first championship team [that shared the title with Ponsonby after a 0-0 draw that included extra time] and then was proudly part of the team's outstanding championship winning sequence through until 2003 with the championship trophy changing to the "C.J. Coleman Shield" in 1998.

3. Hirovana'a first played at provincial level for Auckland in 1994 [who she played for from 1994 until 2003] and throughout her career she played from our Auckland Marist Club. She was not ever in a losing Auckland Provincial team and as a Halfback from 1995 developed an outstanding partnership with Anna Richards [playing a First Five Eighth] during her thirty-eight [38] games in the "blue and white hoops".... scoring 110 points while doing so.

4. Hirovana'a was first selected as a Fullback for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in 1994 when the Black Ferns made their first ever sanctioned tour which was to Australia. She played her debut game against the Australian Capital Territories [ACT] in Canberra and the touring team won by 87 points to nil with her scoring a remarkable four [4] tries! She made her Test Match "debut" in the Test Match played against the Australian "Wallaroos" in Sydney that was won by 37 points to 0 with her scoring a try in what was described as being an outstanding individual display.

5. In 1995, Hirovana'a switched to play at Halfback and combined again with Richards [now playing at 1st Five Eighth] to play with the Black Ferns. In that position, Hironvana was quickly recognised as being one of the best players in the world throughout for the remainder of her playing career. 

6. During her career, Hirovana's played a total of 26 games for the Black Ferns, including playing in 24 Test Matches. Her achievements included: [a] scoring four tries on "debut" against the Australian Capital Territories [ACT] in 1994, [b] scoring a try in her Test "debut" against Australia in 1994,  [c] scoring 3 tries in one Test played against England in 1997, [d] playing in every game at the "1998 Rugby World Cup", [e] at the end of the 2001 season she had at that time played in the most successive Test Matches at 18 along with our own Annaleah Rush [this has since been surpassed], [f] was recognised by being named as the New Zealand "Women's Player of the Year" in 2002, and [g] she was only once in a losing Black Ferns team [against England  at Auckland in 2001].

7. Hirovana'a lives and works in Auckland where she has worked for the Ministry of Primary Industries [formerly NZ Customs] as a Cargo Inspector, but now more recently as a Dog Handler. 

​​​​​​​Total New Zealand Statistics: 62 First Class games and scored 215 points [43 tries]

Davida M. WHITE [now SUASUA]

Date of Birth: Sunday the 26th March 1967 in Auckland

Black Ferns Number 51 and Marist Black Ferns Number 1

Position: Loose Forward

BLACK FERNS from 1993 to 1996, 1998, and 2000 [15 games and scoring 10 points - 13 Tests and 1 Test as Captain]

Biography:

Last School : Edgewater College in Auckland  

​​​​​​​Provincial Team : Auckland from 1993 to 2000 [TBC'd games and tbc'd points scored]

- New Zealand Black Ferns Debut was on the 4th October 1993 and was played against a NZRFU President's XV at Wellington

- Last match for the New Zealand Black Ferns was on the 30th September 2000 and was played against England at Winnipeg [Canada]

COMMENTS:

1. As a Loose Forward who started playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland during the 1992 season, White made her "debut" at provincial level for Auckland in 1993.

2. The New Zealand "Black Ferns" only started representing our country formally in 1991 [after having been officially founded in 1990] and only two seasons later White's selection for that team made her our proud Club's first ever Black Fern.

3. White made her "debut" for the New Zealand "Black Ferns" in a "promotional match" for New Zealand Women's rugby that was played in Wellington against a NZRFU President's XV team. It has been described as beiung a "Trial Match" with one team being the "Probables" and the other being the "Possibles" with White being selected in the "Probables" meaning that she played for the New Zealand team.

4 White played in her first Test Match the following year [1994] during the first officially sanctioned tour made by the Black Ferns when they toured Australia in 1994. The Test Match was played against Australia in Sydney and it was won by 37 points to 0.

5. White was a member of the Blacks Ferns team in 1995 that 'thumped" Australia by 64 points to 0 at Auckland's Waitemata Park [it was meant to have been the curtainraiser for the All Black's Test at Eden Park against the Wallabies, but there had been "torrential rain" the night before which caused the transfer]. She next played in 1996 when she was selected as member of the Black Ferns that played at the "1996 Canada Cup" tournament in matches played against Canada and USA.

6. White did not play rugby for the Black Ferns in 1997, but she played every Test at the "1998 Rugby World Cup" tournament [the Inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup] held in the Netherlands and it was during that tournament that she was Captain of the New Zealand Black Ferns in the Quarter Final match played against Spain [won 46 points to 3]... the New Zealand team were ultimately crowned as "World Champions" after defeating the United States of America in the tournament's Final by 44 points to 12.

7. In 1999, a broken arm sidelined White and she was not expected to return to play international rugby. However, she was selected for the Black Ferns Squad in 2000 with her playing two further Test Matches [against Canada and England at the "2000 Canada Cup" tournament].

8. It was at the end of this season [2000] that White decided to "retire" from playing the game. Notably, she was not ever in a losing Black Ferns team during the 15 games [13 Test Matches] that she played for our national team and she scored 10 points for that team in the form of two tries scored one each against Australia and the USA both in 1996.

9. Upon retirement as a player, White became a Coach including coaching the Auckland "Storm" Provincial Women's team from 2002 to 2011 [winning the "National Provincial Women's Championship" in 2002-2004 and 2009-2011]. She then coached the Counties Manukau "Heat" Provincial Women's squad from 2013 to 2017 and in 2016 this team won the first ever "Farah Palmer Cup" [the National Provincial Women's Competition] plus the province's Sevens team that won the 2016 National Sevens title. White also coached the Manu Sina Samoa team that played at the "2006 Rugby World Cup" held in Canada. In 2008, she was the co-coach of the Tangaroa College First XV.

10. White is the Principal of Tangaroa College in Auckland and she coached the College's First XV from 2004 to 2008. She is married to the former Head Coach of the Black Ferns and of the Counties Manukau "Mitre 10 Cup" team, Darryl Suasua, who she began dating tin 1984 with them having formally married in 2017. Suasua is the current Head Coach of our Auckland Marist Men's Premier team in 2023 [returning to the club in 2020 after a stint coaching the Counties Manukau "Steelers" team] and in 2023 is an Assistant Coach with the Cheif's Manawa Team in the "Super Rugby Aupiki" competition. [the Head Coach is former Marist Premier Player Crystal Kaua (nee Murray)].