| Union | New Zealand Rugby |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| Location | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Region | Hawke's Bay Manawatu Wellington |
| Coach(es) | Ngatai Walker |
| Captain(s) | Jackie Patea-Fereti |
| League(s) | Super Rugby Aupiki |
| 2024 | 4th Overall |
| Official website | |
| www | |
Hurricanes Poua are a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team based in Wellington, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. [1]
On 7 February 2022, The Hurricanes revealed the new name of their women's team – Hurricanes Poua. [2] The new team identity was developed collaboratively by a select committee that included past and present Black Ferns. [2] They drew from preexisting Māori narratives, the team's identity has a connection to both the Hurricanes region and their people. The name Poua was derived from the Māori narrative of Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earthmother). [2]
New Zealand Rugby announced that an elite women's competition, consisting of four teams, called Super Rugby Aupiki was confirmed for March 2022. [3] [4] [5] The competition would run for four weeks and the women would be paid for their participation. [6] [7] [5]
Hurricanes Poua released a list of players that had signed for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season. [8] [9] [10] Wesley Clarke was appointed as Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua. Former Black Fern, Victoria Grant, and Manawatu Cyclones Head Coach, Fusi Feaunati, were named as his assistant coaches. [11] Sarah Hirini was named to captain the side for their maiden season. [12]
The Hurricanes Poua were forced to withdraw from their opening match against the Blues Women due to COVID cases and isolation requirements within the team. The teams shared the competition points as the match had been cancelled. [13] [14] After missing out on their opening game, Hurricanes Poua finally got their much awaited debut. They faced Chiefs Manawa in the second round of competition but were beaten 29–8. [15] [16] [17] Hurricanes Poua recorded their first win in the final round after defeating Matatū 18–6. [18] [19] [20]
Victoria Grant was appointed as the new Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua for the 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season. [21] [22] [23] Grant will be absent for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season and will return as head coach in 2025. [24] Ngatai Walker will be head coach for the 2024 season. [24]
In early March 2024, the Hurricanes Poua attracted media attention after they used an altered haka (ceremonial dance) before a match with the Chiefs Manawa on 2 March. The haka contained the Māori language line "karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero" or "puppets of this redneck government," which referred to the incumbent National-led coalition government. The haka also made references to Toitu te Tiriti, a political movement that had criticised the Government's policies towards the Māori language and perceived breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. [25] The Poua lost 46–24 to the Chiefs Manawa. [26]
Following media attention, Hurricanes Poua prop and haka leader Leilani Perese claimed that the Hurricanes' management had approved the altered haka but this was disputed by Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee, who said he was not consulted. Lee announced that the Hurricanes would apologise to the Government. New Zealand Rugby also announced that it would investigate the matter, while the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) confirmed it would speak with the Hurricanes Poua team members. [25] The Hurricanes Poua were criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and ACT party leader David Seymour, who said that the team was more interested in politics than in winning the match. [27] [26] By contrast, Kaihaka (performer) and Māori language expert Mataia Keepa defended the Hurricanes Poua, stating that it was "absolutely humbling ... and absolutely heroic" to witness the team's haka. [28]
On 27 November 2023, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced. [29] [30] Ayesha Leti-i'iga is injured and was not considered for selection. [29]
| Hurricanes Super Rugby Aupiki squad | ||
|---|---|---|
Props Hookers Locks | Loose forwards Halfbacks (scrum-halves) First five-eighths (fly-halves) | Midfielders (centres) Outside backs |
| (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, ST denotes a short-term signing. | ||
| Captain | Period | Ref |
|---|---|---|
 Sarah Hirini | 2022 | [12] |
| Jackie Patea-Fereti | 2023 |
| Coach | Period | G | W | D | L | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wesley Clarke | 2022 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| Victoria Grant | 2023 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40% |
| Ngatai Walker | 2024 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16.66% |
| Totals (2022–present) * | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 28.57% | |
| Updated to: 13 April 2024 | ||||||
Notes:
Aroha Savage is a rugby union player. She plays for New Zealand and Auckland. She previously played for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She has competed for the Black Ferns at three Rugby World Cup's — 2010, 2014 and 2017.
Victoria Grant is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. She played for New Zealand internationally and for Auckland at provincial level. She was recently appointed as Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua.
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns squad that won the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland. She also plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Otago provincially.
Krystal Murray is a dual code international rugby player for New Zealand. She competed for the Kiwi Ferns at the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup in Australia. She then made her test debut for the Black Ferns in 2021, she was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Northland provincially.
Super Rugby Aupiki is a professional women's rugby union club competition in New Zealand. Its inaugural season was held in March 2022. It is a steppingstone between the Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns. Aupiki translates as ‘the ascent to the upper most realm’.
Matatū is a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Matatū represents the South Island, specifically the regions covered by the Crusaders and the Highlanders. They are governed by the Crusaders. They were crowned champions of the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.
The 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season is the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki. The competition commenced on 10 March between Chiefs Manawa and Matatū. On 20 March, Chiefs Manawa were crowned as the inaugural champions of Super Rugby Aupiki after defeating the Blues Women 35–0 in the final round of the competition.
Chelsea Bremner is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She previously played for Matatū in 2022, but now plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She represents Canterbury at a provincial level.
Tanya Kalounivale is a Fijian-born New Zealand rugby union player. She plays at tighthead prop for Waikato and Manurewa Women’s Rugby Club. She was part of the Black Ferns champion 2021 Rugby World Cup squad. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Luka Connor is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns 2021 Rugby World Cup squad that won their sixth title. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition; she also plays for the Bay of Plenty Volcanix in the Farah Palmer Cup and club rugby for Rangataua.
Cristo Tofa is a New Zealand rugby union player. She has played two tests for the Black Ferns; she currently plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, having previously played for the Blues Women.
Leilani Perese is a New Zealand rugby union player. She debuted for the Black Ferns in 2018. She also plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Counties Manukau provincially.
Monica Tagoai is a New Zealand rugby union player. She played three tests for the Black Ferns in 2018. She plays for the Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Wellington provincially.
The Chiefs Manawa are a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
The Blues Women's team is a New Zealand professional women's rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
The 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season was the second season of Super Rugby Aupiki, a professional women's rugby union club competition organised by New Zealand Rugby. The competition ran from 25 February 2023 – when Hurricanes Poua and Chiefs Manawa played the opening match in Levin – to 25 March 2023.
Bernadette Robertson is a Samoan rugby union player. She represented Samoa at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup in France. She currently plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Mererangi Paul is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Counties Manukau in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Layla Sae is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Manawatu in the Farah Palmer Cup.
The 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season was the third season of Super Rugby Aupiki, a professional women's rugby union club competition organised by New Zealand Rugby. The competition ran from 2 March 2024 – when Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua played the opening match in Hamilton – to 13 April 2024.
