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Newsroom
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsroom
Sweet debut tribute to Black Fern's late parents
In the last weeks of her life, Maire Fakalelu confided to her cousin what she would miss most was seeing her daughter, Veisinia, make her debut for the Black Ferns. Maire passed away in 2021 from an aggressive and rare bone cancer, leaving behind five children. Just a few years earlier, their dad – her husband Sekope Fakalelu – died from stomach cancer. On Saturday, 20-year-old Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu pulled on the black jersey for the first time, running onto the field at North Harbour Stadium and giving everything she had in the Black Ferns' spectacular 79-14 rout of USA to clinch the Pacific Four Series. The rookie tighthead prop had a massive family presence at the stadium, including her four siblings and her mum's cousin Roberta Reed, who presented Mahutariki-Fakalelu with her Black Ferns playing jersey the night before the test – the Black Ferns' last home game before defending their World Cup title in England in August. Reed was chosen to do the honours by Mahutariki-Fakalelu's three older brothers – Paeahu, Jakob and Tyrone – and younger sister, Serene, because she's stepped in over the last four years to help the Hamilton-based whānau since they lost their mum. Reed would drive the teenaged Mahutariki-Fakalelu to trainings, and was with her when she had knee surgery a couple of years ago. 'My cousin, Maire, and I spent a lot of time together; we worked at the same primary school. I told her I would always support the kids,' Reed said from the packed embankment, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with images of Mahutariki-Fakalelu and her parents. 'She knew back in 2021 that her girl was going to be a Black Fern and play on this stage, but she was just sad she wouldn't get to see her wear the black jersey. 'Those kids have been through so much; we've been crying the last couple of weeks wondering how they're getting through this. After all Vei's resilience, perseverance and hard work she really deserves this. I'm so proud of her.' Mahutariki-Fakalelu showed off her explosive ball-carrying and scrummaging skills during her 40 minutes on the field and felt she carried her late parents' memory with her every metre. Vici-Rose Green and Mahutariki-Fakalelu with the Pacific Four trophy NZ reclaimed from Canada. Photo: Black Ferns Instagram 'They are here in spirit, they are with me everywhere I go, I know that,' the physiotherapy student said afterwards, laden with an impossible number of lolly leis – from her head to her thighs – while cradling the Pacific Four trophy. Many in the decent-sized crowd (number not revealed) had come to see social media maven and USA powerhouse centre Ilona Maher, or the reinvigorated GOAT of Black Ferns try-scorers, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and her Sevens Sisters. No-one left disappointed – Woodman-Wickliffe dotted down seven tries in 80 minutes, while Maher stayed on for selfies with several hundred young fans, despite the sting of such a hefty loss. But it seemed just as many were there to support Mahutariki-Fakalelu, who spent at least 30 minutes on the infield posing for photos with a steady stream of family and friends – all armed with leis and huge banners of their hero. 'My whānau are everything to me, so to have them here is something I will never forget,' she said. 'To make my debut in front of them was so special because some Black Ferns don't get to, when they play their first games overseas.' A contingent from Australia – including Mahutariki-Fakalelu's aunties and brother Tyrone (who played touch for Tonga at last year's World Cup) – came over for the final game of the Pacific Four Series. Roberta Reed presented Mahutariki-Fakalelu with her first Black Ferns jersey. Photo: Suzanne McFadden Another brother, Jakob, wasn't surprised Mahutariki-Fakalelu had realised her childhood dream to play for the Black Ferns – but he hadn't expected it would happen so early in her career, especially after a patella injury kept her sidelined for a season. 'Through all the trials and tribulations we've been navigating our way through, Vei has worked her butt off to get to where she is,' said Jakob, whose own sporting career is on the rise. A member of the New Zealand men's netball high performance squad last year, the tall goal shoot is playing for the Magic men this season. 'She's one of the hardest workers in the room, we always say that. She's an inspiration to all of our family. 'She's so kind, her heart is humungous. And she's been very blessed with the traits of our mum and dad, and the virtues they instilled in us.' It's always assumed, Jakob says, that Mahutariki-Fakalelu's towering height comes from their Tongan father, but their Cook Islander mum 'was six foot – and she's the shortest sister.' 'Vei's drive and passion came from Dad, who played rugby all through the grades. He was always such a big fan of Vei through her primary school and intermediate years,' Jakob says. Her mum, though, was her biggest supporter and helper. Family of Mahutariki-Fakalelu carried their banner around North Harbour Stadium; her brother Jakob far left, sister Serene centre. Photo: Suzanne McFadden Mahutariki-Fakalelu played touch and netball to representative level as a kid, but it was at Hamilton Girls' High School that her rugby career bloomed. 'The rugby programme at Hamilton Girls' is very strong and they took her in,' says Jakob. 'She had amazing mentors throughout her school years; [Black Ferns Sevens players] Jazmin Hotham and Manaia Nuku really looked after her in Year 9.' While she was there, Mahutariki-Fakalelu won two national secondary schools touch titles, and two 1st XV national rugby titles. She was still at school when she played in the Waikato women's side who won the 2021 Farah Palmer Cup. Waikato coach James Semple saw she had the size, power and work ethic to excel on the field, and last year decided the powerful No.8's skills were better suited to prop. It was fellow Black Fern prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu who put Mahutariki-Fakalelu through her first scrum session nine months ago and helped her make the successful transition. 'She was just amazing. Her willingness to help others despite what she was going through is something I really appreciated,' said the Chiefs Manawa front rower, after she was named in the Black Ferns for the first time. Tangen-Wainohu made her return to the squad after undergoing neck surgery. 'I see the transition as an opportunity to be a No.8 but I also scrum. I still play the same style of rugby as I did when I was a loose forward – I'm just adding to my kete.' Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu of Chiefs Manawa evades Grace Brooker of Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki 2025. Even while she's been on tour for the past three weeks, Mahutariki-Fakalelu has been taking care of her siblings from a distance. 'Vei messages us every day, even when she's away with rugby,' Jakob said. 'She's making sure everything at home is still happening despite how busy her schedule is.' For the past eight years, Mahutariki-Fakalelu and her family spend every Wednesday night volunteering at The Serve, a Hamilton organisation that serves evening meals every day of the year to those in the community who are homeless or in need. 'She's been messaging us through the day on Wednesdays saying, 'Make sure the potatoes are ready for The Serve', in case we forget,' laughed Jakob. 'We're super close, but we've had no choice but to be. We've had to grow up really fast. It's always us against the world, we say.' In the moments before Mahutariki-Fakalelu ran out onto the field on Saturday, Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant gave her a hug. 'Knowing the resilience Vei's shown to get to this point, it was such a privilege to share this moment on the field with her,' Demant said. 'I know that's just the first of many games in the black jersey for her. 'She was very nervous most of the week, but as we went from training to training, she got a lot more confident. I actually thought she was going to score down in the corner at one point of the game.' Demant told the debutant to enjoy every moment, 'because it goes so fast'. And it was just how Mahutariki-Fakalelu felt. 'It's all a blur – the game was so fast and the adrenaline was pumping,' she said, struggling under the weight of hundreds of chocolate bars hanging around her neck. 'I'm just trying to make the most of every moment out here.' At one point she said to no-one in particular, 'Does anyone else want a turn with the trophy?' But no-one came to wrest it from her. This was her night.
NZ Herald
25-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Black Ferns v USA: Portia Woodman-Wickliffe speechless after claiming try-scoring record
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe loves scoring tries so much that she didn't realise she'd entered the Black Ferns' record books during their 79-14 win over the United States in Albany. The winger has become the Black Ferns' all-time leading try-scorer, dotting down seven tries on Saturday to take her tally to 45, surpassing Vanessa Cootes, who previously held the record with 43. Surprisingly, it's not the first time Woodman-Wickliffe has scored that many tries in a test. She scored seven in a 95-12 win against Japan in 2022, while her record for most in a game is eight, in a 121-0 win over Hong Kong in 2017. Cootes holds the record for most in a match, with nine against France in 1996. The win over the United States was enough for the Black Ferns to claim the Pacific Four Series title, and after the match, Woodman-Wickliffe admitted she didn't know 'how many tries she scored' or that she'd claimed the women's international record.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian women lose Pacific Four Series rugby title to New Zealand on a tiebreaker
AUCKLAND - Winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe entered the record books with seven tries Saturday as the New Zealand Black Ferns thumped the U.S. 79-14 to dethrone Canada as Pacific Four Series rugby champion on a tiebreaker. Second-ranked Canada and No. 3 New Zealand, who played to a dramatic 27-27 draw last Saturday, both finished with 13 points at 2-0-1. The Canadian women wrapped up play Friday with a 45-7 win over No. 6 Australia in Brisbane. Given the draw between Canada and New Zealand, the title was decided by the second tiebreaker — points differential. The Black Ferns went into the tournament finale with a points differential of plus-26, trailing Canada's plus-50. First-half hat tricks by Woodman-Wickliffe and fellow winger Katelyn Vahaakolo ended the drama quickly. Woodman-Wickliffe, 33, who has come out of international retirement after stepping away after winning her second rugby sevens gold at the Paris Olympics, added four more tries in the second half to become the Black Ferns' all-time leading try-scorer with 45. Vahaakolo finished with four tries for New Zealand, which led 34-14 at the half at North Harbour Stadium, as the Black Ferns upped their point differential to plus-91. The ninth-ranked U.S. women (0-3-0) finished fourth behind Australia (1-2-0). Canada opened tournament play with a 26-14 win over the U.S. on May 2 in Kansas City. All four Pacific Four Series teams are preparing for the World Cup, which kicks off Aug. 22 in England. The Canadians have been drawn in Pool B with No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 16 Fiji. Canada could face Australia in the quarterfinals and New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal with No. 1 England, the tournament favourite, expected to be waiting in the final. Canada's next games are against No. 12 South Africa in Pretoria on July 5 and Gqeberha on July 12. Its final tune-up is Aug. 9 against No. 5 Ireland in Belfast. Canada won last year's Pacific Four Series with its first-ever victory over New Zealand, defeating the Black Ferns 22-19 in Christchurch. The Canadian women had lost all 17 meetings with New Zealand before that. Canada also won the inaugural Pacific Four Series in 2021, when the event consisted of a two-game series with the U.S. due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Canadians finished runner-up to New Zealand in 2022 and 2023 when the competition was expanded to four teams. Canada is 12-5-1 since losing 36-0 to France in the third-place game at the last World Cup in November 2022. Four of those losses were to England, with the other to New Zealand. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian women lose Pacific Four Series rugby title to New Zealand on a tiebreaker
AUCKLAND – Winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe entered the record books with seven tries Saturday as the New Zealand Black Ferns thumped the U.S. 79-14 to dethrone Canada as Pacific Four Series rugby champion on a tiebreaker. Second-ranked Canada and No. 3 New Zealand, who played to a dramatic 27-27 draw last Saturday, both finished with 13 points at 2-0-1. The Canadian women wrapped up play Friday with a 45-7 win over No. 6 Australia in Brisbane. Given the draw between Canada and New Zealand, the title was decided by the second tiebreaker — points differential. The Black Ferns went into the tournament finale with a points differential of plus-26, trailing Canada's plus-50. First-half hat tricks by Woodman-Wickliffe and fellow winger Katelyn Vahaakolo ended the drama quickly. Woodman-Wickliffe, 33, who has come out of international retirement after stepping away after winning her second rugby sevens gold at the Paris Olympics, added four more tries in the second half to become the Black Ferns' all-time leading try-scorer with 45. Vahaakolo finished with four tries for New Zealand, which led 34-14 at the half at North Harbour Stadium, as the Black Ferns upped their point differential to plus-91. The ninth-ranked U.S. women (0-3-0) finished fourth behind Australia (1-2-0). Canada opened tournament play with a 26-14 win over the U.S. on May 2 in Kansas City. All four Pacific Four Series teams are preparing for the World Cup, which kicks off Aug. 22 in England. The Canadians have been drawn in Pool B with No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 16 Fiji. Canada could face Australia in the quarterfinals and New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal with No. 1 England, the tournament favourite, expected to be waiting in the final. Canada's next games are against No. 12 South Africa in Pretoria on July 5 and Gqeberha on July 12. Its final tune-up is Aug. 9 against No. 5 Ireland in Belfast. Canada won last year's Pacific Four Series with its first-ever victory over New Zealand, defeating the Black Ferns 22-19 in Christchurch. The Canadian women had lost all 17 meetings with New Zealand before that. Canada also won the inaugural Pacific Four Series in 2021, when the event consisted of a two-game series with the U.S. due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Canadians finished runner-up to New Zealand in 2022 and 2023 when the competition was expanded to four teams. Canada is 12-5-1 since losing 36-0 to France in the third-place game at the last World Cup in November 2022. Four of those losses were to England, with the other to New Zealand. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2025.
Toronto Star
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Late try gives New Zealand a 27-27 tie with Canada in Pacific Four Series rugby
CHRISTCHURCH - Sylvia Brunt scored with the clock in the red as reigning World Cup champion New Zealand rallied for a 27-27 tie with Canada in Pacific Four Series women's rugby play Saturday. Black Ferns fly half Ruahei Demant had a chance to win it but missed a difficult conversion from the sideline. It was a pulsating ending to a hard-fought game, with the Black Ferns' final attack lasting more than 20 phases — blunted repeatedly by some desperate Canadian defence until Brunt went over. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Shoshanah Seumanutafa had scored in the 76th minute to give Canada a 27-22 lead, touching down with a desperate lunge for the try-line after breaking through two tacklers. Julia Schell missed the conversion leaving Canada ahead by five points. The game was tied 12-12 after a high-paced, intense first half that featured some fierce if occasionally sloppy play at the breakdown, with the high error rate not unexpected from two teams playing just their second test of the year. Still it was a measuring stick for both teams, with Canada ranked second in the world and New Zealand No. 3, some three months ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England where the two sides could meet in the semifinal. There were big hits delivered by both sides, with Canadian flanker Karen Paquin flattening a New Zealand ball-runner in the first half. Canada also impressed at set pieces, controlling lineouts and bossing some scrums. Canadian back Asia Hogan-Rochester, who needed treatment late in the first half, was replaced at the break. In the second half, Canada lost backrower Gabrielle Senft to injury and captain Alex Tessier when she failed a head injury assessment. Canada won last year's Pacific Four Series with its first-ever victory over New Zealand, defeating the Black Ferns 22-19 in Christchurch. Saturday's rematch was at the same venue, Apollo Projects Stadium. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Canadian women had lost all 17 meetings with the Black Ferns before that, with 10 of those defeats by 27 points or more. New Zealand had outscored Canada 718-176 before Saturday's game. Hogan-Rochester, DaLeaka Menin, Alysha Corrigan and Olivia Apps also scored tries for Canada. Schell kicked a conversion. Ayesha Leti-I'iga scored two tries for New Zealand with Braxton Sorensen-McGee adding a single. Demant booted two conversions and a penalty. New Zealand had needed to win Saturday to replace Canada in second place in the rankings. New Zealand pulled ahead 19-12 in the 54th minute when Leti-I'iga gathered in Brunt's deft grubber kick to score her second try. Sorensen-McGee, an 18-year-old fullback played in just her second test match, set the table with a swerving run through traffic. Canada responded with Apps darting over for a try after a rolling maul stalled near the Black Ferns try-line. But Schell missed the conversion near the sideline, leaving Canada trailing 19-17. The Canadians kept coming and, taking advantage of a poor New Zealand clearing kick, scored again in the 64th with Corrigan scoring on an overlap for a 22-19 lead. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Black Ferns tied it up in the 69th minute via a Demant penalty kick in front of the posts. Canada opened tournament play May 2 with a 26-14 win over the ninth-ranked U.S. New Zealand defeated No. 6 Australia 38-12 in its tournament opener last Saturday in Newcastle, Australia. Australia hosted the U.S. in Canberra later Saturday. Canada closes out the tournament against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 23. That same day, New Zealand plays the U.S. in Auckland. The Pacific Four Series marks the Canadian women's first time together this year ahead of the World Cup, which runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 27 in England. Canada has been drawn in Pool B with No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 16 Fiji. Canada went into Saturday's game with a lineup reinforced by players from the sevens side that finished third at the HSBC SVNS World Championship. New Zealand star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, coming out of international retirement, started on the wing in her first international 15s game since the World Cup final in November 2022. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Canada also won the inaugural Pacific Four Series in 2021, when the event consisted of a two-game series with the U.S. due to COVID travel restrictions. The Canadians finished runner-up to New Zealand in 2022 and 2023 when the tournament was expanded to four teams. Canada has an 11-5-1 record since losing 36-0 to France in the third-place game at the World Cup in November 2022. Four of those losses were to England, with the other to New Zealand. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025 Read more rugby news at
