Ayesha Leti-I'iga

Ayesha Leti-I'iga

Leti-I'iga in 2022
Date of birth	(1999-01-03) 3 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Tauranga, New Zealand
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2022 Wellington 43 (280) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2022–Present Hurricanes Poua 6 (20) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2018– New Zealand 24 (75)
Medal record Women's rugby union Representing   New Zealand Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand Tournament

Ayesha Leti-I'iga (born 3 January 1999) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, and for Wellington in the Farah Palmer Cup. She also represents New Zealand internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad.

Rugby career

Leti-I'iga made her debut for Wellington in 2015 at the age of 16 and since then has scored 51 tries in 38 games. ^[1] She also plays for Wellington club Oriental Rongotai and has scored 159 tries in 62 games for them. ^[2]

2018–2019

Leti-I'iga made her test debut for New Zealand on 3 November 2018, she came off the bench against the United States at Chicago. ^[3] She featured in all of the games at the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series in San Diego. ^[2] She also helped the Black Ferns maintain their unbeaten record against Australia later that year. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

2021

Leti-I'iga was a standout for the Black Ferns in their unsuccessful tour of England and France in 2021, she played in three of the four test matches. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

2022

Leti-I'iga signed with the Hurricanes Poua for the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki. ^[12]

Leti-I'iga was selected for the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series. ^[13] She scored a brace of tries against the Wallaroos. ^[14] Leti-I'iga scored a hat trick in the final match of the series against the Eagles. ^[15] She was recalled into the Black Ferns squad for the August test series against Australia for the Laurie O'Reilly Cup. ^{[16] [17]}

In September 2022, she made the Black Ferns 32-player squad for the deferred 2021 Rugby World Cup. ^{[18] [19]} She scored a try in the final pool game against Scotland. ^{[20] [21]} In the World Cup final she scored a brace of tries against England and helped the Black Ferns win their sixth title. ^{[22] [23]}

2023

Leti-I'iga re-signed with Hurricanes Poua for their second season. ^[24] On 27 November, it was announced that she was not considered for selection due to injury and will sit out the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season. ^[25]

References

1. Deane, Steve (2 November 2018). "The Black Ferns 'baby' with an angel on her shoulder". Newsroom. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
2. "Ayesha Leti-I'iga #201". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
3. Caldwell, Olivia (2 November 2018). "Black Ferns wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga inspired by family tragedy to reach her dream". Stuff . Retrieved 9 February 2022.
4. "Black Ferns wallop Wallaroos to maintain unbeaten record". ESPN.com. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
5. "Black Ferns wallop Wallaroos again". Otago Daily Times . 25 August 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
6. "Black Ferns ease past Wallaroos". Otago Daily Times . 18 August 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
7. "Red Roses record dominant win over Black Ferns". www.englandrugby.com. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
8. "Rugby: Black Ferns make six changes for England rematch". The New Zealand Herald . 6 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
9. "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v England (Northampton)". allblacks.com. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
10. "Black Ferns named for first Test against France". allblacks.com. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
11. Pearson, Joseph (13 November 2021). "Black Ferns suffer another heavy defeat to France for third loss of tough northern tour". Stuff . Retrieved 9 February 2022.
12. "Hurricanes Women's Squad Named in Historic Announcement". Hurricanes. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
13. "31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series". allblacks.com. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
14. Burnes, Campbell (6 June 2022). "Strong second half sees Black Ferns home". allblacks.com. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
15. Burnes, Campbell (18 June 2022). "Black Ferns clinch Pacific Four Series". allblacks.com. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
16. "Black Ferns named for O'Reilly Cup Test series". allblacks.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
17. Brown, Roger (15 August 2022). "2022 Laurie O'Reilly Cup Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos " When Does It Start, Live Streams And Schedule"". thedailyrugby.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
18. "Black Ferns squad locked in for Rugby World Cup". allblacks.com. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
19. "Black Ferns Rugby World Cup squad named". RNZ . 13 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
20. Burnes, Campbell (22 October 2022). "Black Ferns top Pool A in style". allblacks.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
21. Pearson, Joseph (22 October 2022). "Black Ferns lift physical intensity to beat Scotland, finishing Rugby World Cup pool stage on a high". Stuff . Retrieved 27 November 2022.
22. Julian, Adam (12 November 2022). "Black Ferns crowned Rugby World Cup champions". allblacks.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
23. Grey, Becky (12 November 2022). "England heartbreak as New Zealand win World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
24. "Ayesha Leti-I'iga recommits to the Hurricanes Poua for Super Rugby Aupiki". www.hurricanes.co.nz. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
25. "Hurricanes Poua 2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Squad". www.hurricanes.co.nz. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

External links

• Ayesha Leti-I'iga at the Black Ferns ( archive )