Manaia Nuku

Manaia Nuku (born 3 September 2002) is a New

Manaia Nuku
Zealand rugby sevens player. She won a gold medal at
the 2024 Summer Olympics as a member of the Black Date of birth 3 September 2002
Ferns sevens team. Place of birth Hamilton, New Zealand
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lb)
Rugby career
Rugby union career
Nuku attended Hamilton Girls' High School and made Provincial / State sides
her debut for Waikato in the Farah Palmer Cup in
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020.[2][3] She was given a full-time rugby sevens
2020 Waikato 2 (5)
contract with the Black Ferns Sevens in 2021.[2][4]
2021 Bay of Plenty 3 (5)
Nuku played for the Black Ferns Pango team at the National sevens team
2022 Oceania Sevens at Pukekohe.[5] She was named
Years Team Comps
as a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens
New Zealand 50 apps
squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in
3 tries
Birmingham.[6][7]
43 points[1]
Nuku expanded her international playing career in Medal record
2023 when she signed with the New York Locals of
Representing New Zealand
Premier Rugby Sevens.
Women's rugby sevens
Olympic Games
2023 Premier Rugby Sevens 2024 Paris Team competition
In May 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.[8][9][10]

Nuku fit in with the Locals right off the bat, totaling 14 points, two tries, 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[11] and then falling to the Southern
Headliners, 21-12[12] in the tournament final.[13]

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[14] to then fall to the
Headliners once again in the final.[15] At the Eastern Conference Finals, Nuku tallied two tries, 12 points,
three carries, six tackles, and one steal.[16]

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,[17] advancing to the Championship match. The Locals ended the season taking second place after
falling, 21-10[18] 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.[19]

Nuku ended her first PR7s season with 33 points, five tries, 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.[20]

2024 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.[21] The team won the gold medal, defeating Canada 19-12 in
the final.[22]

References
1. "Manaia Nuku" (https://www.svns.com/en/teams/new-zealand). SVNS. Retrieved 21 June
2024.
2. Stanley, Ashley (29 January 2021). "Manaia Nuku latest sevens star from Hamilton Girls" (ht
tps://www.newsroom.co.nz/lockerroom/page/manaia-nuku-latest-sevens-star-from-hamilton-
girls). Newsroom. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
3. Goile, Aaron (5 February 2021). "How one school produced a quarter of the 2021 Black
Ferns Sevens squad" (https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/300213073/how-one-scho
ol-produced-a-quarter-of-the-2021-black-ferns-sevens-squad). Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
4. "Kelly Brazier energised by "scary but exciting" Black Ferns talent - HSBC World Rugby
Sevens Series" (https://www.world.rugby/sevens-series/news/615170?lang=en).
www.world.rugby. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
5. "Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend" (https://www.allblacks.com/news/sevens-
stars-set-to-shine-over-matariki-weekend/). allblacks.com. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July
2022.
6. "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games" (https://www.allblacks.com/news/
rugby-sevens-teams-named-for-commonwealth-games/). allblacks.com. 29 June 2022.
Retrieved 4 July 2022.
7. "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games" (https://ww
w.stuff.co.nz/sport/commonwealth-games/300624797/experienced-new-zealand-sevens-squ
ads-revealed-for-commonwealth-games). Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
8. "Sevens players to take part in Premier Rugby Sevens" (https://www.allblacks.com/news/se
vens-players-to-take-part-in-premier-rugby-sevens/). allblacks.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
9. "New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season | Premier
Rugby Sevens" (https://www.prsevens.com/news/new-zealand-rugby-stars-sign-with-premie
r-rugby-sevens-for-2023-season). www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
10. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/CtUVQiXAf-d/?img_index=1).
www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
11. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctm8RjTgXr9/?img_index=2).
www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
12. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/CtnTJWaAsId/). www.instagram.com. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
13. "Record Crowd Sees Headliners and Team Triumph in Austin | Premier Rugby Sevens" (http
s://www.prsevens.com/news/record-crowd-sees-headliners-and-team-triumph-in-austin).
www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
14. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/CvDgYhxAarW/). www.instagram.com. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
15. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/CvD2xhLAHkS/). www.instagram.com. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
16. "Pittsburgh has a new Big Ben - Men's Steeltoes win their Home Debut and Qualify for
Premier Rugby Sevens Championship | Premier Rugby Sevens" (https://www.prsevens.co
m/news/steeltoes-make-home-debut-in-highmark-stadium-mens-steeltoes-qualify-for-champ
ionship). www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
17. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/CvngEGCORNK/?img_index=1).
www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
18. "Instagram" (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvn9plmsptt/). www.instagram.com. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
19. "Women's Northern Loonies and Men's SoCal Rhinos x Loggerheads win 2023 Premier
Rugby Sevens Championships | Premier Rugby Sevens" (https://www.prsevens.com/news/
womens-northern-loonies-and-mens-socal-rhinos-x-loggerheads-win-2023-premier-rugby-se
vens-championships). www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
20. "Alev Kelter and Alasio Naduva Win 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens Most Value Player Awards
| Premier Rugby Sevens" (https://www.prsevens.com/news/alev-kelter-and-alasio-naduva-wi
n-2023-premier-rugby-sevens-most-value-player-awards). www.prsevens.com. Retrieved
14 December 2023.
21. Kermeen, Mat (20 June 2024). "Sevens star Sarah Hirini completes 'unbelievable' recovery
for Paris Olympics" (https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350317426/sevens-star-sarah-hirini-compl
etes-unbelievable-recovery-paris-olympics). Stuff. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
22. Burgess, Michael (31 July 2024). "Olympics 2024: New Zealand women's rugby sevens
clinch Olympic gold in Paris" (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics/olympics-2024-new
-zealand-womens-rugby-sevens-clinch-olympic-gold-in-paris/RMU4PDY6C5BZFIXSKPRVY
KXF4Q/). NZ Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2024.

External links
Black Ferns Profile (https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/manaia-nuku/)

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