Manaia Nuku
Date of birth2003 (age 20–21)
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Rugby union career
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020 Waikato 2 (5)
2021 Bay of Plenty 3 (5)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
 New Zealand

Manaia Nuku is a New Zealand rugby sevens player.

Nuku attended Hamilton Girls' High School and made her debut for Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup in 2020.[1][2] She was given a full-time rugby sevens contract with the Black Ferns Sevens in 2021.[1][3]

Nuku played for the Black Ferns Pango team at the 2022 Oceania Sevens at Pukekohe.[4] She was named as a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[5][6]

Nuku expanded her international playing career in 2023 when she signed with the New York Locals of Premier Rugby Sevens.

Rugby Career

2023 Premier Rugby Sevens

In May of 2023, Nuku announced that she was going to play in the United States of America for Premier Rugby Sevens. Nuku signed with the New York Locals, playing alongside Black Ferns teammates Stacey Waaka and Tenika Willison. [7][8][9]

Nuku fit in with the Locals right off the bat, totaling 14 points, two trys, 4 ball carries, and three tackles in the first tournament of the season. Nuku aided the team to a 1-1 finish at the Eastern Conference Kickoff at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tx., topping the Texas Team, 31-17[10] and then falling to the Southern Headliners, 21-12[11] in the tournament final.[12]

The Locals and Nuku found similar results in the Eastern Conference Finals at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. ending 1-1. The Locals defeated the Pittsburgh Steeltoes, 22-14[13] to then fall to the Headliners once again in the final. [14] At the Eastern Conference Finals, Nuku tallied two trys, 12 points, three carries, six tackles, and one steal. [15]

New York advanced to the Premier Rugby Sevens Championship at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. where Nuku and the Locals finally got revenge over the Headliners. The Locals defeated the Headliners 17-14,[16] advancing to the Championship match. The Locals ended the season taking second place after falling, 21-10[17] to the Northern Loonies in the title game. At the Championship Tournament, Nuku ended with one try, seven points, four carries, eight tackles, and one steal. [18]

Nuku ended her first PR7s season with 33 points, five trys, 17 tackles, 11 carries, and two steals. At the end of the year, Nuku was named the 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens Defensive Player of the Year.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 Stanley, Ashley (2021-01-29). "Manaia Nuku latest sevens star from Hamilton Girls". Newsroom. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  2. ↑ Goile, Aaron (2021-02-05). "How one school produced a quarter of the 2021 Black Ferns Sevens squad". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  3. ↑ "Kelly Brazier energised by "scary but exciting" Black Ferns talent - HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series". www.world.rugby. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  4. ↑ "Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend". allblacks.com. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  5. ↑ "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". allblacks.com. 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  6. ↑ "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  7. ↑ "Sevens players to take part in Premier Rugby Sevens". allblacks.com. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  8. ↑ "New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  9. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  10. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  11. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  12. ↑ "Record Crowd Sees Headliners and Team Triumph in Austin | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  13. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  14. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  15. ↑ "Pittsburgh has a new Big Ben - Men's Steeltoes win their Home Debut and Qualify for Premier Rugby Sevens Championship | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  16. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  17. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  18. ↑ "Women's Northern Loonies and Men's SoCal Rhinos x Loggerheads win 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens Championships | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  19. ↑ "Alev Kelter and Alasio Naduva Win 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens Most Value Player Awards | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
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