Jorja Miller's appetite for greatness as insatiable as ever after signing new deal

Jorja Miller has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2029, and while already one of the world’s best at the age of 22, she says she’s there are new heights she’s yet to reach.

The back-to-back World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year would have fielded offers from various corners of the rugby world and other sporting codes, had she not already made up her mind over her next chapter. It’s with New Zealand Rugby that she sees her goals playing out, and she’s chasing nothing but the best the sport has to offer.

“I’m pretty certain that this is where I want to be for now,” she explained to reporters in Auckland on Thursday morning. “Obviously, there’s a lot of exciting opportunities in women’s rugby and rugby league and everything, but for me, this is where I want to be and where I want to leave my legacy. So, it was pretty much just the one option.”

In her young career to date, the former highland dancer has played with some of the greats, witnessing, in person, the heights that have been scaled and what it takes to remain at the top. That’s a blueprint Miller hopes to not just use, but elevate.

“I want to play rugby for as long as I can, and hopefully beat Portia (Woodman-Wickliffe) — how old’s she? Probably 40-odd; Kelly Brazier, they’re getting on,” the star jabbed with a cheeky grin.”So, hopefully a few Olympic gold medals and a few Rugby World Cups in there.”

Expanding on the list of titles she hopes to win, Miller said “I really want to tick off everything” while mentioning Super Rugby Aupiki and the FPC. She went on to add: “But at the same time, what’s keeping me in the game is trying to be the best version of myself as a person, as a leader, as a teammate; whatever role that I’m playing. That is my driver every day, and the results will hopefully look after themselves.”

The insatiable appetite for trophies overlooks individual awards, of which she already has many, and extends to a broader aspiration: legacy.

“For me, the individual awards that I’ve won are probably a testament to the teams that I’ve been a part of. I’ve always said that I want to change the game, and what really is the measure of that, I’m not sure. But personally, I know that there is still so much more that I can do in the game, so continuing to grow in that area, and hopefully, we can get a few more gold medals on the way.”

The next two years will offer more cracks at SVNS Series glory, a shot at the first-ever women’s British & Irish Lions Tour, and another run at Olympic gold. Miller is keen to put her hand up for all opportunities in both sevens and fifteens, although she is unsure what the next 24 months will realistically look like.

“I’m pretty focused on Sevens and this next Olympic Games in LA, but the Lions Tour is a really exciting opportunity coming to home soil. Who knows what that could look like, potentially sevens and fifteens, but I’m not too sure.”

Whatever the schedule looks like, Miller’s mindset is unwavering: growth.

“I don’t feel like I’ve hit my peak yet, and that’s quite exciting. I still feel like I’ve got a whole lot more to give, and you learn and grow every single day in this job.

“Having a role in the leadership group with the Black Ferns Sevens has been an honour, and I know that I’ve got so much more to grow and give in there to help bring these new, young, less-experienced girls through. I feel I’m still striving to be better every day and will continue to do that.”