Atlanta Lolohea: 'My rugby is the most settled it’s been'

Established in 1861, Westport is New Zealand’s oldest European settlement on the West Coast. Best known as a coal-mining centre, Westport has a population of less than 5000.

Still, it produces big dreamers and champions, including Black Ferns hooker Atlanta Lolohea, named after the sprawling American city in Georgia; home to the world’s largest airport, the 1996 Olympic Games, and known for casinos, Coca-Cola, blues and hip-hop music. It is also where an older sister was performing when Lolohea was born.

Lolohea has played 11 Tests for New Zealand but only 13 Farah Palmer Cup games for Canterbury, winning 11, including a Premiership in 2022. For most of her career she has been an understudy to the more experienced Georgia Ponsonby. Could that be set to change?

The first of eight Black Ferns Tests to close out 2026 takes place this Saturday against Australia for the Laurie O’Reilly Cup at Go Media Stadium in Auckland. It is the Wallaroos’ 100th Test. They have never beaten the Black Ferns in 30 outings.

Moving from Matatu – where she won a title in 2023 – to the Blues saw Lolohea produce her best Super Rugby Aupiki season.

She ranked in the top 10 for tackles [85] and carries [73]. The Blues won 55 of 57 scrums and 60 of 69 lineouts, the best in the competition. Most notably, she scored two tries in their 28-21 win over Matatu in the final in Christchurch and was named player of the match in the decider won by an 83rd-minute try from Katelyn Vahaakolo.

“That was crazy, the whole week,” Lolohea told RugbyPass. “Training and preparation were normal, but before the game we had to perform a haka and Lu (Ruahei Demant) got sick. It meant Harono Te Iringa and I had to lead it at the last minute. I was more nervous about that than the game.

“Come game time, I was calm and focused and the team felt connected. Despite how good Matatu are, I didn’t have any doubt we’d lose. It was just a matter of taking our opportunities. Even when Tara Turner took her quick tap at the end, I was only focused on getting to the ruck rather than yelling at Tara for turning down the easy three.

“With my tries I wanted to have a crack when I saw the line open. I feel like my rugby is the most settled it’s been. I’m getting more minutes, experience, and confidence. With that comes calm and clarity.

“We actually lost our first two preseason games, won our first actual season games, but lost another two after that. Suddenly we had to pull together if we were going to achieve our goals. We faced a lot of adversity in our campaign, including bereavements, but it made us closer.

“Deo volente. God willing. A lot of what I do in my life is faith-based. We have a Bible group in the Blues that was important for us connecting.”

Lolohea debuted for the Black Ferns and scored a try in a 62-0 win against Australia in 2024. She also featured in all three Tests of WXV 1, scoring a try in the shock loss to Ireland [27-29] and producing a strong cameo off the bench in a 39-14 win against France.

She made the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 squad and featured in wins against Japan [62-19] and South Africa [46-19], and came off the bench in the ill-fated semi-final defeat to Canada [34-19].

“My first World Cup tour, eye-opening,” Lolohea said. “England hosted us, spectacularly. The support of the fans and the off-field hype and atmosphere was on another level.

“It was a cool mix with XVs and sevens girls. Canada were the better team in the semi. They used their pack well. This year, focusing on finding new individual edge, building new connections, and playing more free-flowing rugby.

The Black Ferns won the Pacific Four Series in April, with Lolohea featuring in all three wins against USA [48-15], Canada [36-14] and Australia [40-5]. A major focus for Lolohea has been on her throwing.

“It can be tedious practice; doing the same thing over and over again,” Lolohea revealed. “I try to throw to different spots and visualise what a lineout might look like on the field.

“The throw is so important to get right because much good attack comes from the lineout. The locks call the lineouts and are really connected in that space. If I notice something wrong, I’ll tell the locks, but usually the call is their responsibility; the throw is mine.”