'She's the smiling assassin for a reason': Black Ferns laud Stacey Waaka

Black Ferns players lined up to pay tribute to Stacey Waaka after the centre put in a typically influential performance on her landmark 30th Test appearance.

In recognition of the occasion, Waaka ran onto the Sandy Park pitch ahead of her teammates and later led the haka prior to kick-off in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-final against South Africa.

Having helped New Zealand to a hard-fought 46-17 victory in Exeter, supplying a brilliant try assist for Kaipo Olsen-Baker in the second half, the 29-year-old celebrated with her family at the full-time whistle.

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“It was special,” Waaka said. “It’s been the best 10 years of my life. Wearing this jersey, not everyone gets to do it, so I’m just grateful I’m still here.

“I’m only 29 years old. I hope there’s some more Tests to come.”

Two-time World Cup winner Waaka would surely have already passed the 30-cap mark long ago were it not for her commitments in sevens, in which she won back-to-back Olympic gold, and brief sojourn to league.

Fellow Olympian Portia Woodman-Wickliffe praised her good friend as the pair stood in the mixed zone following their bruising encounter with the Springbok Women.

“She’s an amazing player,” Woodman-Wickliffe said. “I’m fortunate enough I’ve played alongside her for the last 10 years. Sevens, 15s, she’s the smiling assassin for a reason.

“But what she brings to not just the field, but to the team, she’s the shining light. She’s so cheeky, she annoys everyone, but we all love her so much. And I think we’re so grateful that she’s in the team!”

That was a sentiment shared by both captain Ruahei Demant and hooker Georgia Ponsonby.

“Stacey’s a really influential player in our team, not just for how much she influences us, her teammates, our management as well, but also the influence she has back at home. Especially in the communities that she comes from, the diversity that she represents,” Demant said.

“It’s really cool to get the opportunity to run out with her today, for her to lead the haka also. She’s one of the players in our team who really upholds the mana in the waiata and the hakas that we sing and perform anywhere that we go.

“She’s a real stalwart there. She has a real authentic personality as well which is so refreshing for someone who has achieved so much, for her to be so humble.”

Ponsonby added: “Stacey’s massive, what she can do with ball in hand, her ability to beat a player one on one is world class.

“The way she took the kick-offs, she won us back possession and then there’s very few people out there that have that level of skill level.

“Obviously, she’s been in and out of this team, 30 games [but] some girls hadn’t played a game of rugby with her until this year. But I guess it just shows her dedication to New Zealand rugby.”