‘I have unfinished business’: Shiray Kaka reveals post-pregnancy plans

Shiray Kaka isn’t done with rugby just yet, with the Olympic gold medallist planning on returning to the sport after giving birth. In response to an edit on social media, Kaka began to look ahead to what life might look like after pregnancy, deciding there’s “unfinished business” in rugby.

Kaka hasn’t represented New Zealand on the HSBC SVNS Series since the event at Singapore’s National Stadium in 2024, having sustained an ACL injury. Unfortunately, Kaka was later ruled out of the Paris Olympics, three years after winning gold at the postponed Tokyo Games.

With 200,000 followers and nine million likes on TikTok alone, Kaka has one of the largest social media pages of any rugby player in the sport. While injured and later pregnant, Kaka has continued to make fans laugh with content alongside her partner Gillies Kaka.

Both Kaka’s have represented New Zealand on the global sevens circuit, with Gillies going to the 2016 Rio Olympics alongside the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane, but Shiray’s content often focuses on their life as a couple, renovations, and currently learning Samoan.

Shiray was one of the standouts for the Black Ferns Sevens during the 2023/24 SVNS Series, having been named best and fairest after the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. While Kaka missed the Paris Games, there’s still more rugby to be played.

Kaka wrote on social media: “Have had heaps of people ask me: ‘Are you coming back to rugby after baby?’

“And honestly, I hadn’t put much thought into it – until I was scrolling and saw this beautiful edit someone made.

“Truth is, I‘ve been enjoying the blessing of growth son that it’s almost consumed me. But this video made me have a think about the future and what I want for myself moving forward.

“So for everyone asking: yes. I want to come back. No. Rugby hasn’t seen the end of me. Yes. I have unfinished business that I want to take care of.

“The ultimate dream would be to look into the stands during a game, and see Son in Gillies’ arms watching me play.

 

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“Who knows, things might change when  I look in [my] sons eyes. But we’ll see.

“For now, I’m going to continue enjoying pregnancy and being grateful for this opportunity life has given us.”

The Black Ferns Sevens are the current SVNS Series champions, after winning both the league title and later the World Championship in Los Angeles. That was a winner-takes-all event, with that event determining the overall season champions.

It was a dream final with the biggest prize on offer, with New Zealand taking on familiar rivals Australia at Dignity Health Sports Park earlier this month. Jorja Miller opened the scoring in the second minute as the Black Ferns Sevens took control.

Michalea Brake, Risi Pouri-Lane, Mahine Paul and Sarah Hirini also contributed with a try each as the Black Ferns Sevens ran away with a surprisingly dominant win over the Aussies. Mackenzie Davis scored Australia’s only try, as they lost 31-7.