New-Zealand's Liana Mikaele Tu'u grabs the ball during the women's rugby union friendly Test match between France and New Zealand at The Hameau Stadium in Pau, south-western France on November 13, 2021. Photo: Gaizka Iroz
Black Ferns Liana Mikaele-Tu'u hopes that Pacific island teams will be included to play test matches against the British Lions.
Speaking to RNZ Pacific in Auckland during the official announcement of the British Lions women's rugby team tour of New Zealand in 2027, Tu'u said it would be great for Pacific island players to get "exposure".
"I think having exposure to more high quality teams is what our little island nations need," she said.
"If you think about the All Blacks and Black Ferns [they] are made up of Pacific islanders and the best players in New Zealand, and for me for my journey, I would like to play for Samoa before I retire.
"[We would] like to see them in the competitions that we are blessed to play in...just to give more exposure to our players, that would be really cool."
Mikaele-Tu'u, 21, who is of Samoan origin, won early recognition with selection in the Black Ferns for the Northern Tour in 2021 at just 19 years of age.
She made a name for herself after her Farah Palmer Cup debut for Hawkes Bay while still at school at Hastings' Girls High School.
Mikaele-Tu'u was named the Blues Player of the Year for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season in 2022.
She continued to impress in 2023 and was part of the Black Ferns Rugby World Cup squad held in New Zealand, where she was a constant feature in the starting lineup, producing some dominant performances.
She is excited to be in the Black Ferns set-up and is hoping she can play the Lions outfit if she is still around.
Her focus is on getting ready for the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season and making it into the national Ferns squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Her inspiration is being a role model for young Samoan players in New Zealand and island players around the region.
"The sport is growing very fast and we have a lot of talent in New Zealand," she said.
"The World Cup win was the best experience and very humbling for me. To accomplish something like that is an honour in my career.
She wants to keep enjoying the game and be at her best to continue playing for New Zealand.
"I am a proud Samoan and so to think of the community we have in New Zealand and to be able to inspire a young Samoan is special."
No Pacific Island women's rugby team has played the British Lions yet while the Flying Fijians have been the only island team to play and beat the combined outfit, taming the Lions 25-21 in Suva in 1977.
A press briefing was held to announce the Black Ferns plans. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
Fern coach says future is exciting
Former Black Ferns coach Hannah Porter believes having Pacific island teams play against the British Lions would be a big boost for the sport in the region.
While she said nothing on the issue has been discussed as yet, she believes it would be a major step for Pacific women's rugby.
"We have not gone that far deep in the planning in regards to what the competition looks like and making sure we include and really grow that part of the ball game as well which is important," she said.
"And the Pacific nations are growing and striving towards that kind of high performance piece and I am sure there is a lot of opportunities in the future, whether it is in the domestic competitions or the international setting."
Porter is heads the Women's High Performance at New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
Role models
Another Black Ferns player of Samoan origin, Sylvia Logoipulotu Lemapu Atai'i Brunt, believes she and other Pacific players in the Black Ferns are role models that other young island community players can learn from.
She said players of Pacific island heritage representing the Black Ferns have learned a lot from the environment they have been in.
"I am learning so much so quickly and sometimes I think my brain is going to explode," she said.
"But knowing that I am with the best in the world is a real blessing. Depending on selection and all that, travelling with the girls is something that I am excited about.
"And knowing that our Samoan girls in the community look up to us is something special.
"I know there are those out there who can tell themselves that they can do what I am doing right now."
Brunt hopes that she would still be around to play for the Black Ferns against the Lions in 2027.
The Lions will play five matches on the tour, including three test matches against the Black Ferns.
'Nothing quite like a Lions tour'
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said the successful bid to host this inaugural tour is another milestone for women's rugby in New Zealand.
"Hosting this tour gives our players a pinnacle event that will be a highlight in their career and it provides an aspirational pathway for our emerging players," Robinson said.
"There is nothing quite like a Lions tour to engage and excite fans. We think this will have a unique flavour, a freshness and excitement to it like we saw during the Rugby World Cup," he said.
"We will be taking this tour around the country, it will genuinely be something that all kiwis can get behind and get excited about.
"As we anticipate the continued growth of the women's game globally, we are going to see these teams bringing to life an amazing tour."