TENIKA Willison, left, has been added to the Chiefs Manawa squad alongside, Harono Te Iringa, Abigail Roache and Apii Nicholls-Pualau. PHOTO: CHIEFS RUGBY
A King Country rugby star has been added to the Chiefs Manawa side for the upcoming Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Tenika Willison is a current Black Ferns Sevens player who was part of the gold medal-winning side at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She also earned a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Willison has been a standout player since a young age, representing New Zealand in touch and beginning her training with the Black Ferns Sevens team at just 16 years old.
She has notched up an impressive 76 points for the Black Ferns Sevens from 42 starts since her debut in 2016.
Waitomo Chiefs Manawa head coach Crystal Kaua is excited to land a player of Willison’s skillset.
“Tenika’s vision-decision and ability to see the game, creating space for others and herself has always been special,” Kaua said.
“She is a triple threat, her skillset and ability to execute that under pressure will be massive for us.
“She also adds so much off the field, she’s a real champion of the unseen māhi and we can’t wait to have her in our environment.”
Willison said representing her region would be exciting and something she was honoured to do.
“I’m looking forward to jumping back into the home colours, getting amongst the team culture and seeing what the Waitomo Chiefs Manawa is all about.”
It’s a slight change in route for the Black Ferns Sevens star, who was a key figure in the women’s team and their 2022 success, helping them to a medal at the Sevens World Cup and Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Playing 15s is something Willison has stated in the past that she wants to do.
It’s likely she will line up either in the midfield or on the wing as a direct replacement for Chelsea Semple, who is on matrernity leave and Renee Wickliffe, who has retired and all going well, Willison will get plenty of chances to show off her speed and silky footwork.
It’s not new to see players from the sevens team give 15s a crack with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Stacey Fluhler, Sarah Hirini, Ruby Tui and Tyla Nathan Wong a few of her international teammates to play the 15-person game in 2022.
The competition starts in five weeks with the Chiefs Manawa, who will be rocking the same colours as their men’s team in 2023 facing the Hurricanes Poua in Levin on February 25.
Saturday, March 4 sees them away to the Blues women at North Harbour Stadium before they host the South Island’s Matatu at FMG Stadium Waikato on March 11.
The semi-finals are set down for Sunday, March 19 at North Harbour Stadium, while the following weekend on Saturday, March 25 will be the third and fourth play-off and the final, with Chiefs Manawa looking to defend their crown.
