Alena Saili

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Alena Saili

| image = Alena Saili 2024.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|12|13}}

| birth_place = Porirua, New Zealand

| height = 1.80 m

| weight = 77 kg

| school =

| university =

| relatives =

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| ru_position = Forward

| years1 =

| clubs1 =

| apps1 =

| points1 =

| ru_clubupdate =

| ru_currentclub =

| ru_provinceyears1 =

| ru_province1 =

| ru_provinceapps1 =

| ru_provincepoints1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repteam1 =

| repyears1 =

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate =

| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2017 – present

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = New Zealand

| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 123 apps
43 tries
215 points{{cite web |title= Alena Saili |website= SVNS |url= https://www.svns.com/en/teams/new-zealand |accessdate= 21 June 2024}}

| ru_sevensupdate =

| coachteams1 =

| coachyears1 =

| ru_coachupdate =

| medals =

{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}

}}

Alena Saili (born 13 December 1998) is a New Zealand rugby sevens player.is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays seven-a-side and fifteen-a-side rugby union, and is a member of the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team.

Saili joined the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team in 2017. She was a member of the New Zealand women's sevens teams that won gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. In 2018–2019 she played five games for the fifteen-a-side New Zealand women's national rugby union team. Saili was a member of the New Zealand women's sevens team that it won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She was a member the New Zealand women's sevens team that won a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

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.

Early life

Alena Saili was born in Porirua, on 13 December 1998 to Maima Afutu and Sefo Saili.{{cite web |last= Julian |first= Adam |date= |title= Alena Saili #197 |url= http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile_bf.asp?BFID=5200 |website= All Blacks |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}{{cite web |last= Savory |first= Logan |date= 23 August 2021 |title= Lockdown upside for Olympic gold medallist Alena Saili |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns/126156087/lockdown-upside-for-olympic-gold-medallist-alena-saili |website= Stuff |accessdate= 21 June 2024}} When she was one years old she moved south with her family to Invercargill.{{cite web |last= Deane |first= Steve |date= 16 August 2018 |title= This weekend's other big rugby test |url= https://newsroom.co.nz/2018/08/16/black-ferns-determined-to-defend-unbeaten-record/ |website= Newsroom |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}{{cite web |last= Hudson |first= Daisy |date= 18 September 2021 |title= Women shaping their world for the better |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/women-shaping-their-world-better |website= Otago Daly Times |accessdate= 24 June 2024}} As a child she watched her mother Maima play club rugby for the Collegiate Rugby Club in Invercargill.{{cite web |last= Savory |first= Logan |date= 6 July 2021 |title= Tokyo Olympics: High school dream becomes reality for Black Fern Alena Saili |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/125656988/tokyo-olympics-high-school-dream-becomes-reality-for-black-fern-alena-sail |website= Stuff |accessdate= 21 June 2024}} Maima went on to coach both secondary school and provincial teams. In 2021 she was appointed Southland District Rugby League’s rangatahi (youth) and female development officer.{{cite web |last= Savory |first= Logan |date= 24 September 2022 |title= The Southland women who took on a male-dominated sport and become hooked |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129934513/the-southland-women-who-took-on-a-maledominated-sport-and-become-hooked |website= Stuff |accessdate= 24 June 2024}} Alena Saili’s cousin Francis Saili, placed for both the Blues and the All Blacks, while his brother Peter Saili placed for the Blues.

She completed her secondary education at Southland Girls' High School in Invercargill.{{cite web |last= Savory |first= Logan |date= 17 August 2021 |title= Emotional return for Southland's Olympic Games golden Black Fern Alena Saili |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns/126094921/emotional-return-for-southlands-olympic-games-golden-black-fern-alena-saili |website= Stuff |accessdate= 21 June 2024}}

At secondary school she played aerobics, basketball, netball. rugby union, touch rugby and volleyball. In January 2017 Saili was a member of New Zealand under 20 women's touch rugby team that played and lost of its three games against Australia in a trans-Tasman series.{{cite web |last= Donaldson |first=Scott |date= 20 December 2016 |title= Hard work pays off as Southland touch achieves national success in golden year |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/77318112/hard-work-pays-off-as-southland-touch-achieves-national-success-in-golden-year |website= Stuff |accessdate= 25 June 2024}} New Zealand lost all three of the games.{{cite web |title=Trans Tasman – 2017: Youth Girls 20 – New Zealand |url= https://www.internationaltouch.org/events/trans-tasman/2017-youth/girls-20/new-zealand/ |website= Federation of International Touch |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}

it was only after her coaches suggested that she should focus on fewer sports that she began to concentrate on rugby union. She played for the school’s first fifteen girls rugby team from year 9 right through to year 13. It was after playing in a high school sevens tournament that she realised that she loved this format better.

Rugby career

At the South Island Regional sevens tournament in December 2014 Saili who just meet the minimum age requirement by turning 16 on the day of the tournament was a major contributor to the Southland women’s team getting third and thus meeting the criteria to play in the 2015 national sevens tournament.{{cite web |last= Savory |first= Logan |date= 14 December 2014 |title= Alena Saili shines for Southland women's sevens |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/64145759/alena-saili-shines-for-southland-womens-sevens |website= Stuff |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}

In January 2017, in her first year after leaving secondary school Saili joined the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team on a full contract.{{cite web |author= |date= 19 January 2017 |title= Fresh names in New Zealand women's sevens for 2017 season |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/88587428/fresh-names-new-zealand-womens-sevens-for-2017-season |website= Stuff |accessdate= 25 September 2023}}{{cite web |author= |date= 18 June 2018 |title= Alena Salli |url= https://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/risaleaana-pouri-lane/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181130213153/http://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/risaleaana-pouri-lane/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= 30 November 2018 |website= New Zealand Olympic Team |access-date= 12 February 2021 |language=en }} She made her debut at the age of 19 at Sydney {{cite web |date= 27 January 2017 |title= Experienced Black Ferns Sevens Squad Selected for Sydney |url= https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/2017/01/27/experienced-black-ferns-sevens-squad-selected-for-sydney/ |website= Rugby Heartland |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}{{cite web |last= Hepburn |first= Steve |date= 20 January 2017 |title= Southlander Saili in NZ sevens squad |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/southlander-saili-nz-sevens-squad |website= Otago Daily Times |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}

In early 2018 she was again awarded a 12 month contract with the sevens team.{{cite web |date= 8 February 2018 |title= Blacks Ferns Sevens contracted squad named (NZ Rugby News |url= https://www.northlandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/58516 |website= Northland Rugby |accessdate= 25 September 2023}}

She was a member of the Black Ferns team that won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

= Fifteen-a-side=

At the age of 19 Saili made her debut for the Black Ferns 15-a-side rugby team against Australia in Sydney on 18 August 2018. She made further appearances; against Australia in Auckland on 25 August, against Canada in San Diego on 28 June 2019, against France in San Diego on 6 July 2019, with her last against England in San Diego on 14 July 2019. Three of the games were as substitute.

=2020 Tokyo Olympic Games=

In January 2019 she was awarded a full 12 month contract with the sevens team.{{cite web |author=|date= 15 January 2019 |title= Three teenagers named in Black Ferns Sevens squad |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/380152/three-teenagers-named-in-black-ferns-sevens-squad |website= Radio New Zealand |accessdate= 27 September 2023}}

Two months prior to Tokyo Olympics she fractured a shoulder in training, but with treatment she became fit enough to be considered for selection.{{cite web |last= Searle |first=Jamie |date= 2 August 2021 |title= Saili overcomes the odds to win gold at Tokyo Olympics |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/125946572/saili-overcomes-the-odds-to-win-gold-at-tokyo-olympics |website= Stuff |accessdate= 21 June 2024}}

She was selected for the team, which went on to win the gold medal.{{cite web |author= |date= 2 July 2021 |title= Tokyo Olympics: New Zealand sevens squads named as All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke only makes travelling reserves |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tokyo-olympics-new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-as-all-blacks-winger-caleb-clarke-only-makes-travelling-reserves/GVVNGVZSZRAHODTUZSFSSMRYVI/ |website= NZ Herald |accessdate= 21 June 2024}}{{cite web |title= Rugby Sevens – SAILI Alena |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |url= https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rugby-sevens/athlete-profile-n1473855-saili-alena.htm |publisher= Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=5 September 2021 |archive-date=5 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905183139/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rugby-sevens/athlete-profile-n1473855-saili-alena.htm |url-status=dead }}

After Nathan Cohen, Saili became the second person from the province of Southland to win an Olympic gold medal.

Upon her return from Tokyo she spent 14 days isolating at a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility in Christchurch before being reunited with family in her home town, where she visited her former school, Southland Girls’ High School in August 2021. Here she was honoured with a full school haka in the school’s gym.

=2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games=

Saili was named in the New Zealand women's sevens team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.{{Cite web |date= 29 June 2022 |title= Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/rugby-sevens-teams-named-for-commonwealth-games/ |website= All Blacks |access-date= 4 July 2022 |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date= 29 June 2022 |title= Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/300624797/experienced-new-zealand-sevens-squads-revealed-for-commonwealth-games |access-date= 4 July 2022 |website= Stuff |language=en}} She won a bronze medal at the event.{{Cite web |last= McConnell |first= Lynn |date= 1 August 2022 |title= Double bronze for New Zealand Sevens sides in Birmingham |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/double-bronze-for-new-zealand-sevens-sides-in-birmingham/ |website= All Blacks |access-date= 5 August 2022|language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date= 1 August 2022 |title= NZ Sevens sides bounce back to win bronze medals |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/01/black-ferns-sevens-bounce-back-for-bronze-in-tough-canada-clash/ |access-date= 5 August 2022 |website= 1 News |language= en}}

She was part of the Black Ferns sevens team that won a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.{{Cite web |last= Julian |first= Adam |date=12 September 2022 |title=New Zealand sides scoop silver in Cape Town |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/heartbreak-for-new-zealand-sides-in-cape-town/ |website= All Blacks |access-date= 22 September 2022 |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=12 September 2022 |title= NZ Sevens come up short, losing World Cup finals in Cape Town |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/12/nz-sevens-come-up-short-losing-world-cup-finals-in-cape-town/ |access-date=22 September 2022 |website= 1 News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= Wilson |first= Sam |date= 11 September 2022 |title= Recap: New Zealand's men and women beaten in Rugby World Cup Sevens finals in Cape Town |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/300684524/recap-new-zealands-men-and-women-lose-their-rugby-world-cup-sevens-finals-in-cape-town |access-date=22 September 2022 |website= Stuff |language= en}}

=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 New Zealand sevens teammate, Tysha Ikenasio.{{cite web |date= 17 May 2023 |title= New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season |url= https://www.prsevens.com/news/new-zealand-rugby-stars-sign-with-premier-rugby-sevens-for-2023-season |website= Premier Rugby Sevens |accessdate= 27 June 2024}}{{cite web |title= Eastern Conference Kickoff Preview |url= https://prsevens.com/2023/06/16/eastern-conference-kickoff-preview/|website= Premier Rugby Sevens |accessdate= 27 June 2024}}

Saili ended the year totalling, two tries, 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.{{Cite web |title= Pittsburgh has a new Big Ben – Men's Steeltoes win their Home Debut and Qualify for Premier Rugby Sevens Championship {{!}} Premier Rugby Sevens |url= https://www.prsevens.com/news/steeltoes-make-home-debut-in-highmark-stadium-mens-steeltoes-qualify-for-championship |website= Premier Rugby Sevens |access-date= 14 December 2023 |language=en}}

Both of Saili’s tries 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 tries.

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.{{Cite web |title= Texas Team Rugby |url= https://www.statesman.com/picture-gallery/sports/2023/06/20/texas-team-competes-premier-rugby-sevens/12128263002/ |website= Austin American-Statesman |access-date= 14 December 2023 |language= en-US}}

=Return to New Zealand sevens duties=

Following the completion of her time in the Premier Rugby Sevens Saili returned to New Zealand and served as a member of the New Zealand team that contested the 2023–2024 World Rugby Sevens competition and won its league title.{{cite web |author= |date= 24 November 2023 |title= Kiwi sevens teams set for title defences in first round of new SVNS World Series |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/301014503/kiwi-sevens-teams-set-for-title-defences-in-first-round-of-new-svns-world-series |website= Stuff |accessdate= 24 November 2023}}{{cite web |author= |date= 9 February 2024 |title= 17-year-old among new faces in Sevens squads ahead of Olympics |url= https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/02/09/17-year-old-among-new-faces-in-sevens-squads-ahead-of-olympics/ |website= I News |accessdate= 12 February 2024}}{{cite web |last= Julian |first= Adam |date= 6 May 2024 |title= Sevens Blackwash in Singapore |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/sevens-blackout-in-singapore |website= All Blacks |accessdate= 26 June 2024}} Over the course of the competition she played 24 games, and scored seven tries.{{cite web |title= Alena Saili |website= SVNS |url= https://www.svns.com/en/teams/new-zealand |accessdate= 27 June 2024}}

=2024 Paris Olympics=

On 20 June 2024 it was announced that she had been selected as a member of the New Zealand Women’s Rugby Sevens team for the Paris Olympics.{{cite web |last= Kermeen |first= Mat |date= 20 June 2024 |title= Sevens star Sarah Hirini completes 'unbelievable' recovery for Paris Olympics |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350317426/sevens-star-sarah-hirini-completes-unbelievable-recovery-paris-olympics |website= Stuff |accessdate= 21 June 2024}} The team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19–12 in the final to give both her and New Zealand back-to-back Olympic gold medals.{{cite web |last= Burgess |first= Michael |date= 31 July 2024 |title= Olympics 2024: New Zealand women's rugby sevens clinch Olympic gold in Paris |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics/olympics-2024-new-zealand-womens-rugby-sevens-clinch-olympic-gold-in-paris/RMU4PDY6C5BZFIXSKPRVYKXF4Q/ |website= NZ Herald |accessdate= 31 July 2024}}{{cite web |last= Lindsay |first= Brayden |date= 31 July 2024 |title= Saili helps New Zealand to gold |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350361390/saili-helps-new-zealand-gold |website= |accessdate= 2 August 2024}}

Awards and honours

2016–17, ILT Southland junior sportsperson of the year.{{cite web |title= ILT Southland Sports Awards: Honour Board |url= https://www.sporty.co.nz/sportsouthlandsportsawards/2024-winners-honours-board |website= Sporty |accessdate= 27 June 2024}}
2018–19, ILT Southland junior sportsperson of the year.
2021–22, ILT Southland senior sportsperson of the year.{{cite web |date= 8 July 2022 |title= Black Ferns star Alena Saili ILT Southland sportsperson of the year |url= https://www.activesouthland.co.nz/newsarticle/117681?newsfeedId=1325221 |website= Active Southland |accessdate= 24 June 2024}}

References

External links

[http://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/alena-saili-2/ Alena Saili] at Black Ferns Sevens
{{World Rugby Sevens Series player}}
{{NZOC profile}}
{{Olympics.com profile}}
{{Olympedia}}
{{2018 Commonwealth Games profile|rugby-sevens/athlete-profile-n6026188-alena-saili}}
{{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|53178}}