Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Mixed news for two Paris Olympic gold medallists as Kiwi Ferns squad named

Stacey Waaka of New Zealand runs in for a try during the 2024 Perth SVNS women's match between New Zealand and USA at HBF Park on January 27, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Tyla King will return to the international rugby league arena after being named in the Kiwi Ferns’ squad for the Pacific Championships. However, the New Zealanders will be without another two-time Olympic gold medallist who missed selection due to an injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

King had practically just arrived in Paris last October when World Rugby recognised the Black Ferns Sevens playmaker as the world’s best sevens player. That honour was bestowed upon King just a matter of days after she helped New Zealand beat Australia in rugby league.

The Kiwi Ferns hadn’t beaten the Jillaroos in seven years, but King had played a part in a famous rugby league result for the New Zealanders. King will look to make a difference once again when the rival sides meet at least once during the upcoming Pacific Championships.

Related

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Following the 2023/24 SVNS Series season, King retired from rugby sevens after the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old returned to NRLW with the St George Illawarra Dragons, with the five-eighth making four appearances during the recent campaign.

King has been rewarded with a spot in New Zealand’s squad, but a former teammate of the Black Ferns Sevens representative has missed out. Stacey Waaka has been ruled out of representative honours after suffering a leg injury.

Waaka was recently named in the Dally M Team of the Year and the Rugby League Players Association’s Team of the Year. The 28-year-old scored six tries, broke 23 tackles, made six line breaks and completed 94.7 per cent accuracy of her tackles.

It seemed quite likely that Waaka would’ve made the grade without this unfortunate injury. But, even without the ‘smiling assassin’ in their squad, the Kiwi Ferns have named a solid group ahead of their tournament opener on October 27.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are excited about the squad we have assembled,” Kiwi Ferns head coach Ricky Henry said in a statement. “The depth of talented Kiwi players across the NRLW this year has been outstanding to watch and made our selection process more difficult than ever.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kiwi Ferns (@kiwifernsnz)

“We are looking forward to seeing the rookies take their opportunity. They have been impressive to follow throughout the season and we have no doubt they will proudly represent the jersey. It is also a great pleasure to name Georgia (Hale) in her 10th Kiwi Ferns squad.

“To bring Test level women’s rugby league back to Christchurch is exciting,” Henry added. “It’s great to be giving young wahine down south the opportunity to see that there is a pathway in the game that leads to representing your country.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We hope to continue to inspire that next generation of Kiwi Ferns with more games played across Aotearoa in future.”

Waaka will return to the Black Ferns Sevens after recently penning a contract extension with New Zealand Rugby.

Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, Gayle Broughton, is also in line to debut after being named in the Kiwi Ferns squad for the first time. Broughton switched from sevens in 2022 by signing with the Parramatta Eels, but is now with the Brisbane Broncos.

The Kiwi Ferns will kick off their quest for Pacific Championships glory against the Jillaroos at Christchurch’s Apollo Projects Stadium. New Zealand will later take on Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on November 3, which could potentially determine the grand finalists.

Following those two fixtures, a Grand Final will be held in Syndey on November 10. That match will go ahead on the same day as the men’s Pacific Championships decider.

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Toulouse make big call on Antoine Dupont fill-in Toulouse make big call on Antoine Dupont fill-in
Search