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Harlequins Women confirm arrival of two New Zealand internationals
By Lucy Lomax
Harlequins Women have confirmed the arrival of two New Zealand internationals Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u until the end of March 2026.
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Both Sae and Mikaele-Tu’u join up with Quins as injury replacements, having both featured for the Black Ferns at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, securing a third-place finish in the tournament.
Mikaele-Tu’u who has 35 caps to her name joins from the Blues in Auckland and will meet up with the Club from Monday 27th October ahead of Quins’ Round 2 trip to the StoneX Stadium to face Saracens, with Sae, who joins from Hurricanes Poua joining a fortnight later ahead of Quins’ away fixture against Exeter Chiefs.
Head of Women’s Rugby Andy Rhys Jones said: “Layla and Liana are two world-class talents and we know that they will add a lot to our environment. We’re also confident that this collaboration will allow both players to thrive in a new environment too and that they will be able to continue to develop as players, as they experience rugby in the Northern Hemisphere for the first time.”
NZR Head of Women’s High Performance, Hannah Porter, said this opportunity is exciting for both players and reflects the strong connection between Harlequins and New Zealand Rugby.
“It’s fantastic to see Layla and Liana join Harlequins Women for the next few months, a club with rich rugby history. After impressive Rugby World Cup campaigns with the Black Ferns, this experience gives them the chance to test themselves against, and alongside, some of the best athletes in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Beyond rugby, it’s a special chance for them to experience life in a new country and continue to grow as both athletes and people.
“We are fortunate to have such a positive relationship with Harlequins. This enables valuable opportunities for our players to step into different environments and new styles of rugby to further develop their game before returning to New Zealand in time for the Black Ferns season and Super Rugby Aupiki later in 2026.”
Layla Sae said: “I’m so excited for this opportunity and I can’t wait to bring my own flair to Harlequins and the other side of the world.”
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Liana Mikaele-Tu’u said: “I’m very grateful for this opportunity to experience a new environment at Harlequins. It’s a pretty big move away from everything I’ve known back in New Zealand, but it’s a challenge that I am really excited for. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can bring to the Quins jersey.”
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