Jaymie Kolose on the Black Ferns Sevens star 'nobody can tackle'

The Black Ferns Sevens are crackling with confidence and humour ahead of the sixth leg of the 2025/2026 SVNS in New York.

Despite mourning Kelsey Teneti’s kuia and missing Braxton Sorensen-McGee (concussion), Jazmin Felix-Hotham (ankle), and Manaia Nuku (ACL) through injury, the Black Ferns Sevens celebrated coach Cory Sweeney’s 48th birthday in style, defeating Australia 24–17 to win the Vancouver Sevens for a record eighth time.

The Black Ferns Sevens have won the Canada Sevens more than any other SVNS event, recording 56 victories in their last 59 matches in “Hollywood North.”

This season they are on a 15-game winning streak with a 23-2 record, having won additional Cup titles in Dubai, Singapore and Perth.

Broadway, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty make “the big apple” home to some of the most iconic tourist attractions and stars in the world. Jaymie Kolose, in just her fifth SVNS tournament, hopes to leave her mark in a city that never sleeps.

A combination of New York pazzazz and New Jersey grit would be an ideal recipe for the Black Ferns as they pursue their sixth title in the USA.

Vancouver – their 48th win in 57 SVNS Cup finals – was their hardest win of the 2025/26 season. Early injuries meant more responsibility for Kolose.

“Jazz got injured against France, a decent team, so I got on earlier than expected. Things went well. I scored two tries, and we won the last group game 38-17,” Kolose said.

“The biggest difference between Sevens and Fifteens is that I’m more involved in decision-making and playmaking. Sometimes in fifteens, you have to pursue the ball or just wait for it to come to you. In Sevens, you get it all the time.”

Early in the first half of the Vancouver Cup final against Australia, Kolose took too much time with the ball and fumbled just before the tryline when she was tackled by Maddison Levi, who had conceded a headstart.

“Honestly, I was scared. I could hear her coming and needed to swap which side I was holding the ball for a fend. When the line got closer, I thought I’d make it anyway. I underestimated how long and strong her arms are. I should have lunged earlier, but Maddi was too skilled. She does that all the time.”

Kolose immediately atoned for her error by jumping on a loose pass from an Australian scrum to score the first try of the final.

The Black Ferns Sevens seized control. Tries by Jorja Miller and Katelyn Vahaakolo had them comfortably ahead 17-5.

Inspired by Kahli Henwood, Australia soon rallied. A Henwood turnover and bust allowed Maddison Levi to score her second try. Previously, the prolific Levi had scored only once in her previous five matches against the Black Ferns Sevens.

Henwood then stole a kickoff, setting up a try for Mackenzie Davis under the posts and levelling the score at 17–17.

Miller resurfaced with a teasing charge and drew a high tackle. From the penalty, the Black Ferns Sevens spread rapidly to the right wing. Risi Pouri-Lane stepped past her opposite and released Stacey Waaka, who dashed 40 metres towards the corner flag before delivering a brazen pass that positioned Alena Saili closer to the posts.

Jaw-dropping Miller was named MVP of the final for the third time this season, leaving Kolose to speculate why she’s so hard to stop.

“Everybody can tackle us. Nobody can tackle Jorja Miller. Does she stink or something?” Kolose roared with laughter.

Affectionate teasing is just one facet of the Black Ferns peerless camaraderie.

“When one player hurts, we all hurt,” Kolose said.

“There was some adversity in Vancouver. When that happens, we rally around family and each other. We trust each other to step up.

“We warmed up well for the first Great Britain game, but we made a dusty start. Our leaders owned that. When you get on, and you’re winning by a lot, you don’t want to be the person that makes it 40-5 instead of 40-0.”

Of Samoan and Maori heritage, Kolose grew up in South Auckland. From a family of five, both her parents are school teachers, with her father, Tone, principal of Manurewa South School. Kolose thrived in athletics, touch and netball, making the Northern Comets, the feeder team to the ANZ Premiership franchise, the Northern Stars.

She started playing rugby for Ardmore Marist in 2022 and then made the Counties Manukau Dame Farah Palmer Cup team. She has played 24 games for the Heat and scored 15 tries. In 2024, she was part of the Heat that beat Auckland Storm 35-20 to win the JJ Stewart Trophy, the Ranfurly Shield of women’s rugby.

With the Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki, she has played in 20 of the 23 all-time games and scored a dozen tries. She has won the last two Aupiki titles, enjoying her best Aupiki season in 2025, ranking in the top 10 for tries, metres gained and clean breaks. She earned selection for the Black Ferns XV tour of South Africa in August and scored a try in the 34-26 win against South Africa in Cape Town. During the Blues season, she was “buddied” with Black Ferns all-time leading try scorer Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

“The most interesting thing Portia taught me is that she sometimes gets nervous about being tackled or tackling someone. I couldn’t believe that, to be honest,” Kolose said.

“Nerves are natural in all kinds of situations. Be confident in yourself. Part of that is surrounding yourself with people who are honest, caring and empower you.”

The Black Ferns Sevens, winners of 372 out of 412 SVNS matches, won the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco. This weekend at the New York Sevens, they’re grouped with Great Britain, Fiji, who they’ve next lost to, and France.