Alena_Saili

Alena Saili

Alena Saili

NZ rugby union player

Alena Saili (born 13 December 1998) is a New Zealand rugby sevens player.

Quick Facts Date of birth, Place of birth ...

Saili joined the Black Ferns Sevens in 2017.[2] She won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[2] She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal.[3]

Saili was named in the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[4][5] She won a bronze medal at the event.[6][7] She was part of the Black Ferns sevens team that won a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[8][9][10]

Saili expanded her international career playing for Premier Rugby Sevens in the United States of America, signing with the Texas Team during the 2023 season.

Rugby career

2023 Premier Rugby Sevens

In May 2023, Saili announced she was going to head over to the United States of America to play in Premier Rugby Sevens. Saili signed with the Texas Team, playing alongside Black Ferns teammate, Tysha Ikenasio.

Saili ended the year totaling, two trys, 10 points, seven tackle, six carries, and one steal. Team went 1-3 throughout the season picking up their lone win at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. against the Pittsburgh Steeltoes. Texas dominated Pittsburgh, shutting the Steeltoes out 29-0.[11]

Both of Saili’s trys were scored at the Eastern Conference Finals in Pittsburgh. She had a solid day having one linebreak, four offloads, and three tackles to go along with the pair of tires.[11]

Saili and the Team went 0-2 at the Eastern Conference Kickoff at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tx. falling to the New York Locals and the Steeltoes.[12]

References

  1. [1]
    "Alena Saili". SVNS. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  2. [2]
    "Alena Salli". New Zealand Olympic Team. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Rugby Sevens - SAILI Alena". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. [4]
    "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". allblacks.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  6. [6]
    McConnell, Lynn (1 August 2022). "Double bronze for New Zealand Sevens sides in Birmingham". allblacks.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. [7]
    "NZ Sevens sides bounce back to win bronze medals". 1 News. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. [8]
    Julian, Adam (12 September 2022). "New Zealand sides scoop silver in Cape Town". allblacks.com. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  9. [9]
    "NZ Sevens come up short, losing World Cup finals in Cape Town". 1 News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  10. [10]
    Wilson, Sam (11 September 2022). "Recap: New Zealand's men and women beaten in Rugby World Cup Sevens finals in Cape Town". Stuff. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  11. [11]
    "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 14 December 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Texas Team Rugby". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 14 December 2023.


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