Alena Saili
Date of birth (1998-12-13) 13 December 1998
Place of birthPorirua, New Zealand
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight77 kg (170 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2017– New Zealand
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2020 TokyoTeam competition
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Silver medal – second place2022 Cape TownTeam competition
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Gold CoastTeam competition
Bronze medal – third place2022 BirminghamTeam competition

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

Saili joined the Black Ferns Sevens in 2017.[1] She won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[1] She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal.[2]

Saili was named in the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[3][4] She won a bronze medal at the event.[5][6] She was part of the Black Ferns sevens team that won a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.[7][8][9]

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 of 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. [10]

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 2 "Alena Salli". New Zealand Olympic Team. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". allblacks.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. ↑ McConnell, Lynn (1 August 2022). "Double bronze for New Zealand Sevens sides in Birmingham". allblacks.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "NZ Sevens sides bounce back to win bronze medals". 1 News. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Julian, Adam (12 September 2022). "New Zealand sides scoop silver in Cape Town". allblacks.com. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "NZ Sevens come up short, losing World Cup finals in Cape Town". 1 News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  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. ↑ "Texas Team Rugby". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 14 December 2023.


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