Jorja Miller feels she's 'just scraping the surface' as she re-signs beyond Olympics

A superstar of both the Sevens and fifteens formats, Jorja Miller has extended her contract with New Zealand Rugby through to 2029.

Still just 22 years old and already an Olympic gold medallist, two-time SVNS Series champion, a two-time World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year and the youngest Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial Player of the Year since Jonah Lomu, Miller says she’s as hungry as ever to take the next step in her career, adamant she’s got plenty more room to grow.

Explaining her decision to re-sign beyond the 2028 Olympics, Miller shared her lofty goals in the sport.

“I feel like I’m still just scraping the surface, and I don’t feel like I’ve reached my potential of the best I can be, so I’ll continue to strive to be better as a teammate and as a leader and in whatever role I’m doing,” she said.

“I’ve always said I want to change the game, and I know that in four years in the jersey I haven’t achieved that yet. I have a lot more to pour into this jersey, and this legacy, and I’m excited about where it’s going to lead.

“For me, my main commitment is to Black Ferns Sevens and doing everything I can to win this next Olympic gold medal. Every day I wake up knowing what I want to do. I want to be able to inspire and influence our team to do what hasn’t been done before.”

It’s not just the Olympics with the Black Ferns Sevens that she’s looking forward to, though, with more historic women’s fixtures just around the corner.

“I don’t know what that could look like for me at this stage, but having an exciting (British & Irish) Lions tour coming to New Zealand and to play at home, that’s really exciting,” Miller said.

Starting life as a highland dancer in the small country town of Timaru, Miller moved to Christchurch Girls High School to chase her Black Ferns Sevens dream, breaking into the national selector spotlight at the Condor Sevens tournament in 2019. Still just in Year 11 at the time, Miller scored a game-winning try from an 80-metre sprint in extra time of the semi-final before scoring four tries in a dominant final win.

Now with 111 tries in 118 games for the Black Ferns Sevens, Miller wears her small-town beginnings like a badge of honour.

“It’s something I’m really proud of, being from Timaru and calling it home. It shows you don’t need to be from a big city to make it to the big time. The opportunities and support I got all the way through school allowed me to get there and be in the position I’m in today. It taught me a lot of values. You’ve got to work hard to get where you want to be.”

Black Ferns Sevens Head Coach Cory Sweeney said: “Jorja has grown immensely through her career and although she’s still only 22, she has grown a lot as a leader. Her value to the group is both on and off the field, not just the tries she’s scoring and creating. It’s exciting to think she is just entering her prime and we’re thrilled she’s committed for another two years.”

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Lancaster said: “Jorja is an ambassador for our game here in New Zealand with the way she inspires young girls and boys to play rugby. To see someone who’s grown up in Timaru, to become the best Sevens player in the world, and in 2024 the best rugby player in New Zealand is an incredible achievement and shows her talent, commitment and loyalty. We look forward to seeing what she can do through the next few years.”

New Zealand Rugby Sevens High-Performance lead Hannah Porter said: “Jorja’s set a bar for women’s rugby during what’s been a reasonably short career. The exciting part is she’s just getting started and no doubt there is bigger and better things to come in the black jersey through what is an exciting period for an expanding women’s rugby calendar.”