Black Ferns Sevens Captain Sarah Hirini On Women’s Rugby “I think Asian rugby in many ways is more advanced than even New Zealand at the moment”

On an eventful opening day at the Cape Town SVNS 2024, we spoke with Sevens legend and Black Ferns Sevens Captain Sarah Hirini, as her side won both pool games against Asian opposition to secure yet another Cup semifinal appearance. We discussed the new breed of players coming through, why she loves Japan, and the message she would like to send to aspiring players.

New Zealand beat China 40-10 and Japan 22-12 to move on and set up a semifinal at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday against France, while rivals Australia will face the USA.

We asked Hirini, the Paris 2024 gold medal-winning player, what it meant to still be playing at the top level of the game, especially with more than 100 debutantes competing in the SVNS Series over the opening two rounds of this season.

Sarah Hirini told us, “It’s a huge privilege to still be in the Black Ferns Sevens team and I am really proud to represent my country. I have loved every moment in this team and I am just glad to still be around and trying to keep up with these young kids who are on the World SVNS Series today – they are showing how amazing and athletic they are.”

You can see all the results from the Cape Town SVNS 2024 here.

How do you recalibrate for the new season with the new players coming into the mix?

“It’s been pretty awesome for us knowing we have had some girls move on and there are young kids who have been in our program for a couple of years now and are getting their opportunity.

For me, it’s about helping out the players that I can and passing on as much knowledge as I can from all these years playing. But honestly, they are awesome and are much stronger than me in the gym and they are class as well, so it’s cool just watching them and being able to play alongside them too.”

Photo Credit- World Rugby – NZ beat China on the opening day of the Cape Town SVNS 2024 40-10

The Appeal Of Playing in Japan – Sarah Hirini

You are one of a few players in the New Zealand squad who has had experience playing in Japan – what is it about playing there that appeals to you and others?

“Japan would have to be one of my favourite countries to visit and play in. The people are amazing and the culture and everyone is just so kind. I absolutely loved my time there a couple of years back and I can’t wait to go back, to be honest, to play,” said Sarah Hirini.

She added, “I think playing those sides like Japan and China on the SVNS Series, they have amazing people and athletes and they give everything. I know we blew the scoreline out (against China) but they play a really physical game and they have a never-say-die attitude.

“I think Asian rugby, in many ways, is more advanced than even New Zealand rugby at the moment. The Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series in Japan and the professional teams for the women – what is out there is amazing.”

For young players – what’s the message you would like to send out?

I would encourage anyone wanting to play rugby to give it a go – It’s given me a childhood dream and I get to travel the world and play and hang out with my best mates, I hope girls keep picking it up and parents want their kids to play as well.”

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