Taufa Bason: The breakthrough Aupiki star named in Black Ferns squad

Taufa Bason was a breakout triumph in Super Rugby Aupiki 2025.

Without a contract at the start of the season, the 18-year-old loose forward became one of the most influential players in the Blues’ Aupiki title defence, and their resounding 36-5 victory over the Waratahs in the inaugural Super Rugby Champions clash. 

In late January, Bason was part of a wider training group with Matatu. By April, she’d played a starring role for the Blues in their 26-19 final win over the Southerners at Eden Park, carrying on the momentum five days later in the taming of Australia’s best at North Harbour Stadium.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

“It’s crazy. I’ve never been part of an environment so friendly and a team so talented,” Bason told RugbyPass.

“I loved the Waratahs game. I was scared by the storm [ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam] until I got out there. I’ve never played in conditions like that before. You can skid to tackle or gain metres. It’s crazy fun.

“The conditions didn’t really affect how we played, but it took a while to build momentum. Once we made a couple of big hits and hung onto the ball, we were sweet.”

A couple of weeks before that game, Bason was supposed to be in Hong Kong. She had an offer to play 10s for the New Zealand Legends. 

“So when Willie Walker called asking to cover an injury at the Blues, I had to choose between a once-in-a-lifetime trip or something longer term,” she says.

Her Blues debut came in round four against Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton, coming off the bench in their 36-21 victory.

“The next game I started against Matatu. It was a funny experience against friends. I didn’t want to be a snitch and share their secrets with the Blues, but at the same time, I used my knowledge of them to my advantage and tried to prove them wrong,” Bason says. 

She scored two tries in that match, but Matatu won 37-29.

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It was Matatu coach Whitney Hansen who got Bason from Feilding to Christchurch. “I stopped my job at Nathan Williams’ egg farm, hoping to land on my feet,” she says. “It was a good experience. I learned a lot.”

Bason was imperious in the Blues’ 49-26 win against the Hurricanes Poua on April 5. She scored a try galloping in from halfway and administered some brutal tackles in a comprehensive victory that secured hosting rights for the Aupiki final against Matatu.

Twice in the decider, the Blues were down; twice, they rallied. The start was especially ropey, facing a deficit of a dozen after 20 minutes. 

“Matatu had us stressing, not playing how we play. Throw in a shoulder, see what happens. Let’s get some momentum, some hype. The pressure might have been what we needed,” Bason reflected.

Stunning tries from Ruahei Demant and Chryss Viliko evened the keel. Kaipo Olsen-Baker rocked the Blues in the 55th minute. In the 70th minute, the Blues were ahead 21-19 when another prodigy, seemingly immune to pressure, snatched a 60-metre intercept and scored.

“I’d heard about Braxton Sorensen-McGee for years,” Bason says. “The first time I met her was at a New Zealand Under-18 camp last year. Wow, she’s such a bubbly person, full of love. I’ve never met anyone who plays so free.” 

Sorensen-McGee is so relaxed that she told LockerRoom in a recent interview that Black Ferns legend and influential Blues centre Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is always easy to find on the field because “she does really loud burps.” 

“That’s so true. Brax’s is 100 per cent right. I have no idea why. What did you eat? It’s so funny. So fast, too much gas in her engine,” Bason laughs hysterically. 

“Portia, I mean, seriously, Portia, she’s like the greatest.”

When teasing the all-time leading Rugby World Cup try scorer, deference doesn’t always apply. It does, however, when Bason is around her parents, Eseta and Stephen.

The Tongan couple migrated to New Zealand to carve out a “better life” working three jobs (night and day) to buy a house and send Taufa to a private Christian school in Palmerston North.

Bason played netball until her overzealous approach caught up with her at age eight.

“I hit this girl and she was rolling around crying for ages. ‘Hurry up, get up’; nah, this is not for me,” Bason recalled.

“I told Dad netball is a sport for pussies. Those were my literal words. I asked Dad, ‘Can I play rugby?’ Only if I could tackle my brothers, he said.”

Her brothers are New Zealand Under-20 representatives Vernon and Mosese Bason.

Taufa has been on a tear since her eureka moment, one of the first girls to be selected in intermediate-aged Manawatu boys rep squads. 

At Feilding High School, alma mater of Black Ferns legend Sarah Hirini and English titan Amy Cokayne, Bason was in the First XV in Year Nine, rapidly promoted to captain, a position she was initially uncomfortable in. 

“I felt the pressure. All eyes were on me. All the moves were built around me. I didn’t handle it the best,” Bason admitted.

Surrounded by older, better players, Bason thrived. She debuted for Manawatu while still at college in 2023 and has won all nine matches she has played for the Cyclones, scoring three tries.

In October 2024, she scored four tries for the Under-18 New Zealand Barbarians in their 29-15 victory over the New Zealand Maori Under-18 squad, Nga Mareikura. The Barbarians were coached by Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winners Anna Richards, Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, Emma Jensen, Elosie Blackwell, and Monalisa Codling. 

Bason won’t be fazed if she misses selection for the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup defence in August and September, reminding herself that time is on her side. Just don’t compare her to rivals or teammates.

Her brother, Mosese, has just become a father. “Oh my god, I remember when he used to plait my hair,” she laughs. “It’s such a huge year for him with the World Under 20s.”

And she’s already smitten with her new niece. “Oh my gosh, Leila. She’s so cute. My friends keep asking me if he named her after Layla Sae,” she says.