| Date of birth | 30 May 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Seina Saito (born 30 May 1992) is a Japanese rugby union and rugby sevens player. She plays flanker for the Japan women's national rugby union team. She competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.
In 2015, she had a short stint in Christchurch as part of an International Rugby Programme where she played for Canterbury University. [1] She competed at the 2016 Asia Rugby Women's Championship. [2] She later captained the Japanese squad to the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland. [3] [4] [1]
Saito scored a try for Japan in their historic clash against the Black Ferns at Eden Park ahead of the World Cup in 2022. [1] She competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup that was held in New Zealand. [5]
Saito played for Mie Pearls. [6] On 28 November 2023, it was revealed that she had signed with the Chiefs Manawa for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season. [7] [8]
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.
Theresa Matauaina Fitzpatrick is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was a member of the Black Ferns champion 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup squads. She has also represented New Zealand in rugby sevens; she won gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens. She played for the Blues Women in the 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season.Since her marriage in December 2023 she has used the surname, Setefano.
Aldora Itunu is a rugby union player from New Zealand. She was part of the Black Ferns team that won the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland. She plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, and has made 50 appearances for the Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Chelsea Semple is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was part of the Black Ferns side that won their fifth Rugby World Cup title in 2017. She plays for the Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Hazel Tubic is a New Zealand-based rugby union player. She represents New Zealand internationally and was a member of their 2017 and 2021 Rugby World Cup champion sides. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Eloise Blackwell is a New Zealand rugby union player. She was a member of New Zealand's squad at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, and was also a part of their champion 2017 side. She also plays for the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Auckland provincially.
Apii Nicholls-Pualau is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.
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.
Tenika Willison is a New Zealand rugby sevens player. She played for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. She also plays for the Black Ferns sevens internationally and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
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.
Renee Holmes is a New Zealand rugby union player. She played for Matatū in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and in 2024 for Chiefs Manawa. She plays provincial rugby for Waikato. She plays International rugby for the Black Ferns and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad.
Grace Steinmetz is a New Zealand rugby union player. She made her test debut for the Black Ferns in 2022. She plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, she previously played for Matatū. She also represents Canterbury provincially.
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.
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.
Awhina Tangen-Wainohu is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for New Zealand at international level and was a member of their 2021 Rugby World Cup champion squad. She also plays for Chiefs Manawa in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Waikato provincially.
Bitila Tawake is a Fijian rugby union player. She competed for Fiji at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup. She also plays for the Fijiana Drua in the Super W competition.
Crystal Kaua is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player.
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.
