| Date of birth | 1 January 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Wairoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 125 kg (276 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Leilani Perese (born 1 January 1993) 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.
In 2010 Perese studied for a Bachelor of Physical Education degree at the University of Auckland. [1] She made 15 appearances for Auckland from 2012 to 2014 before switching to Counties Manukau in 2016. [2]
Perese was included in the historic Black Ferns squad that received contracts in 2018. [3] She made her debut for New Zealand against Australia in the first of two test matches in 2018 in Sydney. [1] [4] She earned her second cap in their 45–17 victory in the second test match. [5]
Three months after making her debut, she was named in the Black Ferns squad for the November tests against the United States and France. [6] She came off the bench in her sides 67–6 routing of the Eagles. [7] [8] [9] She played both matches against France, they won the first test 14–0 in Toulon, but lost the second test 27–30 in Grenoble. [10] [11] [12]
Perese was selected for the Black Ferns squad for the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series in San Diego, she featured in all four games. [13] [14] She faced the Wallaroos again, a year after her debut, winning both tests 47–10 and 37–8. [15] [16] In 2020 she was named in the Black Ferns contracted squad. [17]
Perese appeared for Hurricanes Poua in the inaugural 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season. [18] [19] She was selected for the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series. [20]
Perese is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāpuhi descent) and in early 2024, she became famous for creating a haka for the Hurricanes Poua as a way of protesting against the current New Zealand government and in defense of the rights of the Māori people. [21]
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 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.
Te Kura Rongo Ngata-Aerengamate is a New Zealand rugby footballer who has represented New Zealand in rugby union and the Cook Islands in rugby league.
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.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays as a Lock for the Black Ferns internationally and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.
Joanah Ngan-Woo is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays Lock for the Black Ferns and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Wellington provincially.
Ayesha Leti-I'iga 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.
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.
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns team that won the 2021 Rugby World Cup. She also plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
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.
Krysten Cottrell is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her international debut for New Zealand in 2018. She also plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Hawke's Bay provincially.
Janna Vaughan is a New Zealand athlete. She has represented New Zealand in rugby union, rugby league, rugby sevens and Muay Thai.
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.
Kaipo Olsen-Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her Black Ferns test debut in 2022. She also played for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Manawatu provincially.
Rhiarna Ferris is a New Zealand rugby player. She played for the Black Ferns Sevens team internationally and competes for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Chryss Viliko is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
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.
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.
