The New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team represents New Zealand in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.
A predecessor of the team played for the first time at the 1997 Hong Kong Women's Sevens.
They have won 2 World Cups, 8 Women's Rugby Sevens Series, 4 Oceania Women's Sevens Series, 2 Summer Olympic and 1 Commonwealth tournament. Since 2000 the team has (as of 16 March 2026) won 527 of the 579 games that they have played across all competitions.
History Early days The "New Zealand Wild Ducks", an unofficial women's sevens team, represented New Zealand in the early years of women's rugby sevens. Composed of players such as Anna Richards, Monique Hirovaana, Dianne Apiti (later Kahura), Suzy Shortland, Louisa Wall, Tasha Williams, Annaleah Rush, Mata Young, Sharleen Holden and Ria Ataera, they competed in the inaugural 1997 Hong Kong Women's Sevens tournament and emerged victorious after defeating the United States 43-0 in the final. Richards was named Player of the Tournament. Despite not being officially recognised as a national side by the New Zealand Rugby Union at the time, seven players from the "Wild Ducks" (Hirovaana, Kahura, Richards, Rush, Shortland, Wall and Williams) also represented New Zealand at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup, where they clinched the World Championship title under the guidance of coach Darryl Suasua. The Wild Ducks returned to win the 1999 Hong Kong Women's Sevens tournament, once again defeating the United States in the final this time 29-0.
The first official New Zealand women's sevens team was selected in 2000 and was coached by Darryl Suasua. They won the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens after defeating Australia 36–10 in the final. the team consisted of Lavinia Gould, Sherry Hansen, Dianne Kahura, Noi Kurei, Sharleen Nathan (née Holden), Hannah Porter (née Myers), Anna Richards, Annaleah Rush, Suzy Shortland and Tammi Wilson. They returned the next year to win the 2001 tournament by defeating the United States team 22–10 in the final.
Aotearoa Māori The New Zealand Rugby Football Union then decided to not fund any subsequent official attendance. Wishing to keep New Zealand involved in the tournament and aware that its presence in Sevens added to the profile of the game the United States sevens coach Emil Signes who was one of the tournament organisers approached Peter Joseph who was coach of the Aotearoa Māori sevens team and asked given it was only a few weeks away if they could come to Hong Kong.Tui and Thomson, pp. 184-189 This team had been formed in 2000 and had already established a formidable reputation, and had just defeated the United States team in a tournament at Whangarei.Hireme-Smiler, McFadden; p.52 Joseph agreed to do so. As they were not endorsed by the New Zealand Rugby Union they were unable to receive any funding from charitable trusts. As Joseph and his wife Shelly were considering moving they sold their house which allowed them to contribute NZ$64,000 to fund the team.
Consisting up of just Māori players, among whom was a 21 year old Honey Hireme, this unofficial New Zealand team won the 2002 tournament, having scored 159 unanswered points before defeating the United States 14-7 in the final. Hong Kong was supposed to be a one off event but given their success Aotearoa Māori decided to return in 2003. However they were told that they would not be allowed to complete as members of the team were selected on race and that instead the Wild Ducks would be invited. Joseph protested and the team was allowed back, this time with the very blonde haired Stephanie Mortimer in the team, which put an end to the complaint. They went on to win the 2003 event. Aotearoa Māori continued their winning streak at Hong Kong, taking out the 2004, 2005, 2006 and the 2007 events. Prior to the 2006 event the organisers objected to 15 year old Sharn Waru playing in what they claimed was an over 18 year old event. Despite it being pointed out that a 17 year old was playing for China and Waru having a clearance to play from the New Zealand Rugby Foot Union it was not until a letter was produced from her uncle Tana Umaga that she was allowed to play. She went on to score the winning try in the final. The team won 33 consecutive matches at Hong Kong between 2002 and 2007, ending the 2007 tournament unbeaten, 195-0. Embarrassed by their success the organisers decreed that only "full national" teams and excluded the team from the 2008 and 2009 tournaments. In 2010 they received a late invitation to attend that years tournament, losing in the semi-final to the eventual tournament winners, the Aussie Amazons. At one point when the Māori Party was in a coalition government with the National Party the team received a grant of $25,000.
Aotearoa Māori were so highly regarded that they played England in May 2008 before the men's final of the London Sevens in the first ever women's seven match held at Twickenham. Among the witnesses were representatives from the Olympics organisation wishing to see if the women were good enough for it to be considered for inclusion in the Olympics. The New Zealanders were beaten 14–10.
From 2010 to 2012 Aotearoa Māori completed in the Roma International Rugby Sevens Tournament. The team for the tournament which was held on 4 and 5 June 2010, consisted of: Julie Ferguson (Captain), Honey Hireme, 17 year old Sarah Hirini, Chyna Hohepa, Chanel Huddleston, Arihiana Marino, Claire Richardson, Karley Te Kawa, Rachel Wikeepa and Amy Williams. The team defeated Russia 47-0 and Spain 17-7 in pool play. Italy 27-5 in the semi-finals and triumphed 19-5 over France in the final. In 2011 with a team consisting of among others, Kat Whata-Simpkins and Renee Wickliffe the team defeated Netherlands, Italy and Germany in pool play, Spain in the semi-final and KUSA 12-10 in the final to again win the tournament. The losing KUSA team consisted of mostly New Zealanders and some Americans. Returning for the final appearance in 2012 with Sarah Hirini, Dionne Ryan, Hazel Tubic and Selica Winiata.among its members Aotearoa Māori defeated Georgia, Olymp and Selezione Italy Cup in pool play, Ukraine in the semi-final and Russia team 24–21 in the final.
Between 2000 and 2012 the team won 14 of the 18 official tournaments that they had entered, defeating 23 different countries. Of the 81 women who served with Aotearoa Māori over its life 34 were to go on to serve either in the Black Ferns or Black Ferns Sevens. Among the nine who were to go on to serve in the Black Ferns Sevens were Honey Hireme, Sarah Hirini, Hazel Tubic and Selica Winiata. Hireme introduced Amy Turner to the team and she played at the Whangarei and Hong Kong tournaments in 2004 before moving to Australia. In 2016 she became a gold medallist with Australia in Sevens at the Rio Olympics.
KUSA Among those who served in the team at the 2002 Hong Kong Sevens events was Mere Baker, who by 2009, due to injury and her age was no longer being selected by Aotearoa Māori. To provide them with competition Baker with the support of Ernie Goodhue helped establish the KUSA (Kiwi/USA) Superclub Sevens. Initially most of its players were sourced from those who had missed out on selection for Aotearoa Māori, plus others from Canterbury and the USA. Coached by Baker and Goodhue among those who played for the team were Black Ferns such as Zoey Berry, Kelly Brazier, Olivia Coady, Lavinia Gould, Halie Hurring, Kendra Cocksedge, Amiria Rule, Anika Tiplady and newcomers such as Ruby Tui. The KUSA were beaten in the final of the 2011 Roma International Rugby Sevens Tournament in June 2011 by Aotearoa Māori. The KUSA went on to win the Byron Bay tournament held in October 2011 and a development side (featuring a young Ruby Tui) completed in a Gold Coast tournament in November 2011, losing in the quarter finals to Tonga.Tui and Thomson, p. 192 As they had no official backing the team had to fund raise to play in tournaments with for example participation in the Gold Coast tournament requiring each member of the team to contribute approximately NZ$3,000, either out of their own pocket or though fundraising.Tui and Thomson, pp. 190-191
KUSA ceased to exist after the New Zealand Rugby commenced funding the Black Ferns to compete in the World Series in 2012.
First World Cup In July 2008 Darryl Suasua was appointed coach of an officially sanctioned New Zealand women's sevens side to compete in the inaugural Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup which was to held in Dubai in 2009. As a part of the New Zealand's preparations a squad of 29 players assemble in Auckland on 12 July for a three-day trial camp, which would be reduced to 12 to compete in the qualifying tournament in Samoa, on 25–26 July. Selected for the trial squad were: Billy Jean Ale, Fa'anati Aniseko, Victoria Blackledge, Kelly Brazier, Kendra Cocksedge, Exia Edwards, Julie Ferguson, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Linda Itunu, Jennifer James, Justine Lavea, Vaniya Lavea, Stacey Lene, Huriana Manuel, Angela McGregor, Hannah Porter, Amiria Rule, Melissa Ruscoe, Aroha Savage, Aimee Sutorius, Karley Te Kawa, Teresa Te Tamaki, Ngahuri Thompson, Mallory Townsend, Hazel Tubic, Shaan Waru, Renee Wickliffe and Selica Winiata.
Sixteen teams turned up in Dubai to compete in the World Cup, with New Zealand losing in the final to Australia 15–10. Selica Winiata was the top top women's point scorer.
Go for gold In October 2009 the International Olympic Committee agreed by 81 to 8 votes to include rugby sevens in the Rio Olympics.Swannell, pp. 16, 17
Aware that it was important to New Zealand's reputation that they field a competitive team, the decision was made by New Zealand Rugby to establish a high performance woman's sevens squad.Swannell, p. 18 Tony Philp who was responsible for New Zealand Rugby's men's sevens was allocated NZ$50,000 and assigned the task. Soon after Sean Horan was appointed fulltime coach with support to be provided by the regional sevens resource coaches. The decision was soon made to have the country's 14 national provincial unions host open trials targeted at woman between the ages of 16 and 24 irrespective of whether they had any prior rugby experience.Swannell, p. 19 The programme was called "Go for Gold" and used the tag "Got what it takes to Go for Gold" in advertising targeted at young woman. Philip was of the opinion that compared with other countries most New Zealand woman even if they had never played the game would have seen a game and thus had an innate understanding of the game and its terminology.
Allan Bunting who had played men's sevens and had started coaching was recruited in 2012 to assist Philp and Horan. In addition to radio, television and print advertising the trio used their contacts to assist with talent spotting. One thousand online applicants were received of whom 800 attended the trials where they were put through various fitness, rugby skills and character assessment activities.Swannell, p. 20 Michaela Blyde was made to attend a trial by her mother Cherry who was a former Black Fern. Blyde was heavily involved in playing soccer at the time and was upset when attendance at a second trial meant missing out on a soccer tournament.Swannell, p. 23 A naturally talented sportswoman Gayle Broughton had a troubled childhood, which had led to her being expelled at the age of 16 from high school. Her grandmother promised to give her $10 if she would attend a trial. This was enough to tempt her to meet her grandmother the morning after a party and be driven by her to what she thought would be a "dumb trial".Swannell, p. 24