How the Black Ferns Sevens reacted to Michaela Blyde's code switch

Another Black Ferns Sevens star is taking her talents to rugby league, but Michaela Blyde says as it stands, her plan is to return to the SVNS circuit in 2026.

The sevens speedster signed a one-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW this week in a huge coup for the club who have been absent from the women’s league since Covid-19.

With 250 tries to her name on the SVNS circuit, the 28-year-old is sure to follow in her former teammates’ footsteps and take to the 13-woman game like a duck to water.

Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard on Australia SVNS players switching to 15s

Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard chat’s to Finn Morton about the news that 9 Australia SVNS players are jumping codes to play for their country at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard on Australia SVNS players switching to 15s

Wallaroos captain Michaela Leonard chat’s to Finn Morton about the news that 9 Australia SVNS players are jumping codes to play for their country at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

As the two-time Olympic gold medallist shared following the announcement, the time had come for a new challenge.

“My family are very proud,” Blyde told Newstalk ZB‘s D’Arcy Waldergrave. “They understand that I am one of the older girls in the Black Ferns Sevens now and I’ve stayed loyal and committed to the program since I was 16. So they’re definitely very proud of me making this massive decision to explore other options.

“But my teammates were a little bit surprised. I always said to those who went to league and 15s over the last few years, I used to tease them and say, ‘Where’s your loyalty to sevens? One team, one dream!’ But now I’ve gone back on that and gone to league myself, so that’s a bit awkward.

“But no, my teammates are very supportive, especially because I’m playing for the Warriors and everyone knows who they are, everyone says, ‘Up the Wahs’ and are all well aware of the brand and the culture and so they’re very happy for me to go and play for the Warriors and explore that option for 2025.

“So, lots of support around me which is exciting and it just makes the news even more exciting for myself and my family.”

After a dozen years with the Black Ferns Sevens outfit, Blyde had signed up for another two years by signing a contract through until 2026.

The Warriors offer came about after she was spotted at a Warriors game and spoke to the incoming women’s head coach Ronald Griffiths expressing her joy at the event. A message to her agent from the club asking “Is Michaela interested in rugby league?” followed.

After opting to take the team up on their offer, Blyde had to renegotiate her contract with New Zealand Rugby (NZR).

“It’s a pretty intense discussion. So, my 2025 and 2026 contract has been terminated with NZR, I have now re-signed with the Black Ferns Sevens until May, which is when the (SVNS) World Series ends,” she explained.

“I will then transition into the Warriors environment straight after that.

“For 2026, I have full intentions of coming back to the NZR, as long as they’re wanting me back. It all obviously depends on how I pull up after the league season.

“For me personally, I’m just staying focused and present in my SVNS season with the Black Ferns Sevens from January through until May, and then I’ll put all my focus into the Warriors environment when the SVNS season has finished.

“But, first and foremost I’m ready to win a world series with the Black Ferns Sevens and my sisters.”

The career move demands a temporary location shift to Auckland, something Blyde describes as “a big move for little old Michaela Blyde from Taranaki”.

The Commonwealth Games and Sevens World Cup gold medallist is taking inspiration and advice from a number of former Black Ferns Sevens teammates who have taken up opportunities in the NRLW.

“Gayle (Broughton) was the first one to transition back in 2022, and seeing her grow as the player that she is – not only that but a fantastic leader on the field as well, which we all knew, she’s a very talented human being.

“Then Niall (Williams-Guthrie) was not long after her and then after Tyla (King) and Stacey (Waaka), Tenika (Willison) did the same thing. I think it’s just great because as female rugby players, we have those opportunities to transition to different codes, but not only that, to be paid to do it as well.

“You don’t see too many men transition from rugby to rugby league too often, you’ve obviously got the classics of Sonny Bill Williams and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who have done it, but to see more females do it is really exciting for our game and the opportunity for us to be full time paid athletes in rugby.

“We can’t help but celebrate it. It’s important we see the positive side of it all. I’ve been in good conversations with the girls to understand how the NRLW works and especially with the contracts and all that. It’s a big scary world but extremely exciting for females to have these opportunities to be paid athletes, to compete either in rugby union or league, or both.

“I’m just very proud to be part of that legacy who have that ability to participate in both codes.”