Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on Rugby World Cup semi-final loss

Braxton Sorenson-McGee was mesmerising for the Black Ferns at the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. The World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year scored a tournament-leading 11 tries in six games and topped the stats charts in points scored (69), metres gained (550) and clean breaks (15).

Before that, she helped the Blues defend their Super Rugby Aupiki title. In the 26-19 final win against Matatu, she scored a crucial 70-metre intercept try, made two linebreaks, and a try-saving tackle. She ranked in the top ten for tries scored and clean breaks, and topped the metres gained count in the whole competition.

The 19-year-old has continued her startling momentum for the Black Ferns Sevens, helping the Olympic champions win SVNS cup titles in Dubai, Singapore and Perth.

How can she top those feats for the remainder of 2026? What conversations has she had with the new fifteen-aside Black Ferns coach, Whitney Hansen?

“We’ve said Hi. I hope she picks me,” Sorenson-McGee artlessly told RugbyPass.

“It’s a long time until I play fifteens again. Right now, my focus is on the Black Ferns Sevens.

“Sevens has been a change of pace and environment. There are fewer people, which makes it easier to connect quickly with teammates, but more space, which speeds up the game. One mistake can be a try.

“I feel like the whole team is more connected than we were at the start of the season, and that’s the foundation for success. I’m under no pressure. I’ve been told to be myself.”

An authentic Sorenson-McGee is an intoxicating package of pace, unpredictability and goal-kicking precision. In four tournaments, she has scored five tries and slotted 22 conversions. She has been used selectively by six-time winner of the New Zealand Rugby coach of the year award, Cory Sweeney, in both an impact role from the bench and for speed and playmaking close to the flanks. Sweeney emphasised

“I’m not sure if we underestimate the transition from fifteens to sevens, but it’s hard; the game’s different. I think when you go to fifteens, it’s detail, tactical, set plays, systems and when you come here, it’s accuracy of skill and small things that you’ve got to get really right, because the consequences are so big.”

After the Black Ferns were beaten in the Cape Town final by Australia, a six-week period of “resetting” led to more fluid play in the resounding Singapore and Perth Cup wins, during which the Black Ferns outscored Australia 65-14.

The Black Ferns Sevens have won 45 of the 57 SVNS finals in which they’ve played.  Since their return to international play in April 2022 following COVID lockdowns, their match record across all competitions stands at: played 172, won 157, lost 14, drawn 1.

“We can’t afford to be complacent. Every game is different and challenging,” Sorenson-McGee said.

“We hold ourselves to high standards. The older players aren’t grumpy when we get things wrong, but they will hold us accountable, especially Stacey Waaka.”

Sorensen-McGee became one of the most well-known rugby players during the World Cup in England and found the attention flattering. Her favourite World Cup try was her first, scored in the 62-19 win against Spain in York following a pivot and pass from lock Alana Bremner.

Her favourite game of the World Cup was the Black Ferns 42-26 third-placed playoff win against France at Twickenham, in which she scored two tries.

“I can’t put my finger on why we didn’t play our best in the semi against Canada. We were well prepared but definitely second on the day,” Sorensen-McGee said.

“Against France, we were motivated to finish on a high. I’m glad we did that because we worked hard.”

The Black Ferns have a demanding ten-match schedule in 2026. Their first international is on April 12 in Sacramento against the USA as part of the Pacific Four Series, which also includes Canada and Australia. Following those games, the Black Ferns will play South Africa for the first time on South African soil, take part in the WXV Global Series and host the French in a three-match series.

Super Rugby Aupiki runs from June 13 until July 25 with a Trans-Tasman Final against the winner of Super Rugby W in Australia on August 1.

The immediate priority for Sorenson-McGee is this weekend’s Vancouver Sevens. Since 2015, the Black Ferns Sevens have won the tournament seven times, including a 41-7 romp of Fijiana in their first Cup final last year. In the same tournament, Michaela Brake scored five tries in the 58-7 group win against Ireland to pass former teammate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe as the top try-scorer in SVNS history.

The Black Ferns Sevens, who lead the 2025/26 SVNS league standings by four points, are grouped with Great Britain, Japan and France. The Black Ferns Sevens are a combined 76-4 against those opponents, with the defeats coming at the hands of the 2011 Tokyo Olympic silver medalists.