Sevens star Jorja Miller on transition to 15s
Black Ferns Sevens star Jorja Miller has the rugby world at her feet — but the newly-minted Women's Sevens Player of the Year puts her meteoric rise down to a different activity altogether.
'Credit to my highland dancing, which I think has had a massive impact on my rugby career,' she told Breakfast.
'I think a lot of skills have transferred over.'
Of course, her hard work and prodigious rugby talent helped.
The 2024 Olympic gold-medallist admitted it's been a whirlwind couple of years.
'Time flies when you're having fun. It's kind of just gone from one thing to the next, I've been loving it, so no complaints.
'I feel like an old girl. I'm 21 but I guess I sit in that more experienced side now, to lead the girls with Gossie [Sarah Hirini] and Risi [Pouri-Lane].'
She was now transitioning to the 15-a-side version of the game with the Black Ferns, and targeting World Cup glory this year.
'[It's] a lot more physical, I've made a lot more tackles in the last two days than in probably three years of Sevens.
'But I love that side of things, it's a different game. Bigger bodies, in Sevens it's smaller girls and bigger spaces.''
The Black Ferns take on USA at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
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