Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Black Ferns captain Hirini can't wait for the opportunity to play in Hong Kong

Players of New Zealand perform a haka after the final game of the World Rugby Seven Series 2023 BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on March 5, 2023. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

For the first time in 22 years, New Zealand Rugby will send an official women’s team to the Hong Kong Sevens when the Black Ferns Sevens compete in the sixth round of the HSBC World Sevens Series.

The last time New Zealand’s women played at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium was in 2001.

With World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Anna Richards and pioneering legends Annaleah Rush and Dianne Kahura to the fore, New Zealand won the tournament without conceding a point.

Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini can’t wait for the opportunity to add Hong Kong to her 56-tournament list.

“I have always wanted to play at the Hong Kong Sevens and to now have this opportunity is going to be amazing,” Hirini said.

“Hong Kong is the home of sevens and has always been the biggest event of the men’s sevens calendar.

“I feel the greatest games have been played in Hong Kong and a memory that stands out for me would be the Jonah Lomu try that went 104 metres from the in goal to the try line.”

That Lomu try was in 1994, the first year of play at the Hong Kong Stadium, where New Zealand ended up beating Australia 32-20 in the final.

The Black Ferns have beaten all in sundry the last four tournaments to establish an almost unassailable 14-point lead in the World Series Standings with two events to play.

In 2022 Australia largely had the Black Ferns measure. What’s changed since the XV’s World Cup in October and November?

“I think the group has gotten even more competitive,” Hirini said.

“Players took their chance to show why they are in the team and are proving why they should be wearing the black jersey.

“It’s been awesome coming back and seeing the growth everyone has had and having to work even harder to make the team.”

It would be remiss when reflecting on the history of New Zealand female Sevens in Hong Kong not to mention the impact of Aotearoa Maori, an unofficial women’s seven team sent to represent New Zealand.

In 2002 Peter Joseph and his wife Shelly auctioned their house in Rotorua to ensure a Kiwi presence at the tournament with the newly put together team. Aotearoa Maori then became a juggernaut winning five tournaments in a row.

They featured Black Ferns legends like Honey Hireme-Smiler and Selica Winiata. In 2010, schoolgirl Sarah Hirini featured for the side.

“He literally started my sevens career. He gave me an opportunity when I was 17 to play for the Aotearoa Maori and I will always be grateful for that experience.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

Australia vs USA

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 4 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Ex-England wing Marland Yarde announces retirement Ex-England wing Marland Yarde announces retirement
Search