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'That's exactly why I went over': Renee Holmes explains Black Ferns Sevens switch
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'That's exactly why I went over': Renee Holmes explains Black Ferns Sevens switch
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Renee Holmes may well have just been named 23rd on the RugbyPass Top 50, although the 26-year-old’s main focus will not be on the 15-a-side game this year.
Following a standout Super Rugby Aupiki campaign, in which Hurricanes Poua enjoyed their best-ever season and Holmes further extended her lead as the competition’s all-time points scorer, the 26-year-old has committed her future to the Black Ferns Sevens.
During the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki campaign, Holmes told Adam Julian how she was enjoying some of the best rugby of her career:
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“We’re not taking anything for granted, but when things go right this team is humming. Honestly, the last two weeks have been some of the happiest rugby of my life.”
In 2026, Holmes helped the Black Ferns XVs setup to their fourth Pacific Four Series title. To do so she scored 39 points and even provided two assists. It was a domineering performance from the Rugby World Cup 2021 winner.
After six years playing consistent 15-a-side rugby, change is no bad thing. The writing was on the wall in some ways. In January, Holmes travelled to Fiji to play in the Coral Coast 7s as part of a New Zealand Women’s Sevens Development side.
Now she has her sights firmly set on securing a place at LA28. There is a big season of HSBC SVNS Series around the corner, with a top four finish at the HSBC SVNS World Championship securing a place in Southern California.
Long-term Holmes has not ruled out a return to XVs, but for now her focus is on the start of the SVNS Series season at the end of November in Dubai.
“It’s been awesome, it’s definitely been humbling which is great – that’s exactly why I went over, to keep growing,” Holmes told stuff.co.nz. “Every day I’m learning and that’s just growth I haven’t had in a while.
“There wasn’t too much competition coming through in the 15s space for a bit, so to be in an environment where it’s not normal or natural for me, it’s been really challenging, but in a good way.”
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