Tysha Ikenasio
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image =
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| birth_date ={{birth date and age|1997|9|13|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| height =1.65 m
| weight =70 kg
| ru_position =
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| ru_provincepoints1 =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =2022–
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 ={{ruw7|NZ}}
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =19
| medals =
{{MedalSport|Women's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalGold|2024 Paris|Team competition}}
}}
Tysha Ikenasio (born 13 September 1997) is a New Zealand rugby sevens player. She has also represented New Zealand in tag and touch rugby.
Early life
Tysha Ikenasio was born on 13 September 1997 in Auckland. She attended Sancta Maria College in Auckland and played netball and touch rugby representatively.{{Cite web |date= 5 March 2019 |title= Tysha Ikenasio – the talent behind the name |url= https://www.sanctamaria.school.nz/tysha-ikenasio-the-talent-behind-the-name/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |website= Sancta Maria College |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last= Julian |first= Adam |date= 13 May 2022 |title= Tysha Ikenasio joins Black Ferns Sevens fulltime |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/tysha-ikenasio-joins-black-ferns-sevens-fulltime/ |access-date= 4 July 2022 |website= All Blacks |language= en-NZ}} She competed for New Zealand at the 2015 Touch World Cup in Australia.
It was while in Year 12 at the college that she played her first sevens rugby when the school established their first girls sevens team in 2014.
Prior to finishing her education in 2015 she was twice co-winner of the Middle School Sportswoman of the Year and twice Senior School Sportswoman of the Year.
Career
Ikenasio played sevens professionally in Japan for five years, she played for the Tokyo Phoenix for two years before moving to the Nagato Blue Angels.{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Ashley |date=25 May 2021 |title=Super Rugby: Culture and values a winning recipe for Moana Pasifika |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/300316783/super-rugby-culture-and-values-a-winning-recipe-for-moana-pasifika |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=9 April 2021 |title=Moana Pasifika women make rugby history |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/440109/moana-pasifika-women-make-rugby-history |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic brought an end to the Japanese competition and so Ikenasio returned to New Zealand. With little opportunities to play rugby, she played rugby league for a season with the Richmond Roses in the Auckland premiership.{{cite web |author= |date= 19 December 2024 |title= Black Ferns Sevens player Tysha Ikenasio joins Warriors |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/537161/black-ferns-sevens-player-tysha-ikenasio-joins-warriors |website= RNZ |accessdate= 21 January 2025}}
The only chance to play sevens rugby during this period was when she was asked by co-coach Rocky Khan to play for Moana Pasifika in the 2021 Takiwhitu Tuturu Sevens in Wellington.{{cite web |author= |date= 8 April 2021 |title= Moana Pasifika women make rugby history |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/440109/moana-pasifika-women-make-rugby-history |website= RNZ |accessdate= 21 January 2025}}
=New Zealand sevens=
In 2022 while working full time as a personal trainer she was approached by Cory Sweeney and as a result obtained a position on the Black Ferns Sevens Development Team. She played for the Black Ferns Pango team at the 2022 Oceania Sevens at Pukekohe.{{Cite web |date=22 June 2022 |title= Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/sevens-stars-set-to-shine-over-matariki-weekend/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}} She was named as a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens squad 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/ |access-date=4 July 2022 |website= All Blacks |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}}
= 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens =
In May 2023, Ikenasio revealed she was going to play Premier Rugby Sevens in the United States during the New Zealand sevens off-season. Ikenasio signed with the Texas Team, suiting up alongside Black Ferns teammate, Alena Saili.{{Cite web |date= 23 May 2023 |title= Sevens players to take part in Premier Rugby Sevens |url= https://www.allblacks.com/news/sevens-players-to-take-part-in-premier-rugby-sevens/ |access-date=14 December 2023 |website= All Blacks |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season {{!}} Premier Rugby Sevens |url=https://www.prsevens.com/news/new-zealand-rugby-stars-sign-with-premier-rugby-sevens-for-2023-season |access-date=2023-12-14 |website= PR Sevens |language=en}}
Ikenasio ended the year totaling, 15 carries, 10 points, nine tackles, two tries, and two steals. 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 them out 29-0.{{Cite web |title= Instagram |url= https://www.instagram.com/p/CvDvV1UgG0q/?img_index=2 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website= Instagram}}
Ikenasio tallied one try in the Eastern Conference Kickoff at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tx. At this event, the Team went 0-2 falling to the New York Locals and the Steeltoes.{{Cite web |title=R ecord Crowd Sees Headliners and Team Triumph in Austin {{!}} Premier Rugby Sevens |url= https://www.prsevens.com/news/record-crowd-sees-headliners-and-team-triumph-in-austin |access-date= 14 December 2023 |website= PR Sevens |language=en}}
She scored her second try at the Eastern Conference Finals in Pittsburgh where the squad went 1-1, falling to the Southern Headliners by one point and topping the Steeltoes.{{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 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website= PR Sevens |language= en}}{{Cite web |title= Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CvDcQADAh5E/ |access-date=14 December 2023 |website= Instagram}}
= 2023-24 =
She retained her contact with the Zealand Black Ferns Sevens though the 2023-2024 season.
She was a travelling reserve for the New Zealand Women's Rugby Sevens team that won the gold medal in the rugby sevens competition at 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 |access-date= 21 June 2024}}
=Move to the Warriors=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/tysha-ikenasio Tysha Ikenasio] at the Black Ferns Sevens
- [https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/tysha-ikenasio_1926585 Tysha Ikenasio] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikenasio, Tysha}}
Category:New Zealand female rugby union players
Category:New Zealand female rugby sevens players
Category:New Zealand women's international rugby sevens players
Category:People educated at Sancta Maria College. Auckland
Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for New Zealand