POUA HAS PACE, POWER AND SKILL

Expect the Hurricanes Poua to play an ambitious, high-tempo style that should excite rugby fans and produce plenty of try-scoring opportunities.

CAMPAIGN PREVIEW:

In a quality squad brimming with fire power and experience, the final three signings for Hurricanes Poua may turn out to be the most significant.

NRL women’s premiership (NRLW) champion and Kiwi Fern Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, Black Ferns Sevens veteran Shakira Baker, and former World Cup-winning Black Fern Sosoli Talawadua, complete a squad that has more depth and attacking threats than last year.

Stephens-Daly has returned back to New Zealand and rugby union after winning the NRLW with the Newcastle Knights and representing the Kiwi Ferns at the Rugby League World Cup. She is a fast, elusive outside back and renowned try scorer.

Midfielder Baker has played 82 games for the Black Ferns Sevens team, winning a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She is a powerful runner and difficult to defend against, which should create space for the wingers outside her.

Talawadua returns to competitive rugby following the birth of her second child. She was part of the Black Ferns World Cup squad in 2017 and will be a valuable acquisition as she can play in any of the front-row positions.

Hurricanes Poua have 16 players back from last year’s campaign. Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns lock Joanah Ngan-Woo will again be a driving force in the pack.

Young first-five Carys Dallinger is a player to watch. She was a Black Ferns trialist last year and has all the qualities needed to be a top-class number 10. She is an accurate goalkicker, having scored 172 points in 27 matches for Manawatu - in the Farah Palmer Cup, and has an extensive Sevens background, which will fit well with the attacking style and strengths of Hurricanes Poua.

Newly appointed head coach Victoria Grant knows a thing or two about succeeding at the highest level. The former Black Ferns wing tasted World Cup success in 2006 and 2010 and was recognised as New Zealand Women’s Player of the Year in 2008.

Last year, she worked as an assistant to Wesley Clarke and is proud to step-up to the top job.

“I’m excited to be leading the Poua. Stepping up from assistant last year gives me a great insight into what’s needed to progress us forward. Working with Wes in 2022 was fantastic. Learning off the best. He has left a great platform for us to launch off,” says Grant.

“The Hurricanes region is known for its X-factor, so we want to play a running game with a high skill-set and lots of strike attack.”

Ayesha Leti-I’iga

FORWARDS:

Aroha Savage, Cilia-Marie

Po’e-Tofaeono, Cristo Tofa, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Joanah

Ngan-Woo, Kahurangi Sturmey, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Krystal Murray, Layla Sae, Leilani Perese, Maddie

Feaunati, Rhiarna Ferris, Rachel

Rakatau, Saphire Abraham, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Sosoli Talawadua.

BACKS:

Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Bernadette

Robertson, Carys Dallinger, Crystal Mayes, Iritana Hohaia, Isabella Waterman, Milly Mackey, Monica Tagoai, Teilah Ferguson, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, Shakira Baker.

She is joined by new recruit from the Blues, her Black Ferns teammate Krystal Murray. Another addition to what looks a strong forward group is 2017 Rugby World Cup winner Aroha Savage, who has also transferred from the Blues.

Black Ferns star Sarah Hirini will be a huge loss to Hurricanes Poua as she will miss the campaign away in Canada with the Black Ferns Sevens team. But look out for dynamic number 8, Kaipo Olsen-Baker. She was one of the best performers in last year’s Aupiki before a knee injury cruelly scuppered her Rugby World Cup hopes. Now fully fit, expect to see her impose herself physically every chance she can.

Another star for the Black Ferns was electrifying winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga who will be looking for plenty of ball to run with. Utility back Isabella Waterman moves to the capital from Matatu - to bolster a backline with plenty of depth.

Other new players joining the squad include front-rowers Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono and Cristo Tofa, and Wellington Pride teammates Milly Mackey, Maddie Feaunati and Bernadette Robertson.

NOTE: At time of printing this magazine all dates and kick-off times for Super Rugby Aupiki were correct.