KIWI RELISH – Black Ferns and Quins star Liana Mikaele-Tu’u speaks

All of us who embraced the Rugby World Cup not only enjoyed watching the Red Roses excel, but also loved seeing breakout performances from other teams and their stars.

New Zealand’s Black Ferns brought us huge joy, witnessing the likes of Jorja Miller, Braxton Sorensen-McGee and, of course, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.

Now Mikaele-Tu’u has joined Harlequins, and the 23-year-old is already making an impact while relishing the challenge. So it was a bit of a treat for Helen M Jerome to speak one-to-one to the loose forward with the Hollywood smile.

Everyone loves Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. And that includes her fellow Black Fern, Amy Rule, who joined Exeter Chiefs after the Rugby World Cup. She is understandably excited that both Mikaele-Tu’u and Layla Rae have also joined the PWR, and says: “It’s awesome to see. It’s cool to see them take their opportunities. Like me, personally coming over here is to play lots of rugby.”

“Liana and Layla are incredible humans, and they’re going to add so much value to that team,” says Rule. “So I’m excited to see where their game goes when they’ve a few games under their belt.”

Now, of course, Rule and the Chiefs will be coming up against them both when Harlequins make the journey down to Sandy Park next weekend. “I’m excited to go up against them, and a little bit nervous because they’re obviously known for being big hitters.”

According to Mikaele-Tu’u, it didn’t take long for her to decide to join Quins. Head coach Ross Chisholm (below) adds that they were watching the World Cup closely and asking themselves if they could get some of the great players. And not just anyone, but “those people we feel can really come and encapsulate what Harlequins is.”

Chisholm explains how they made the deal happen. “Liana was someone we were keen to speak to – and the club’s got a partnership with New Zealand rugby and that’s something the club has always been passionate about.”

So even though this hadn’t happened before in the women’s side of Quins, they saw an opportunity. As he notes, with the World Cup being in England, plus a couple of injuries at the club, this “opened a bit of a door”.

“We were delighted that Li agreed to sign and we’ve got Layla Sae joining as well, this week. I think she’s arriving tomorrow.”

Hearing her boss speak in such glowing terms might turn the head of a lesser player. But Liana Mikaele-Tu-u – who kept up her training during Covid by pushing cars – is no ordinary rugby player. She merely beams with delight as she explains her decision.

Why did you choose Quins in particular? What you feel you can add to Quins and vice versa?

I know that they’re a very high effort team.

I think they work really hard for each other, and I’ve seen the culture online on social media – and so that was an environment that I wanted to be a part of.

Culture is everything to me. So I thought I could fit in well, and the last two weeks have been amazing. It’s been what I’ve expected and more. So that’s what drew me to Harlequins.

Then on top of that they play quality rugby, and they train like champs, so yeah I’m really enjoying it here.

Did you talk to other Kiwis before signing?

Yeah, I have talked to my Kiwi friends here and they’ve been really encouraging to just try something different and come over to this side of the world and play some rugby.

Back home, we would just be in off-season, pre-season, so I would just be training and doing conditioning blocks back home anyway.

So why not come and play some rugby?

Canadians, Americans etc all find their pockets of culture. Have you found New Zealand culture you can link up with?

I think we’re still on the journey of bringing more of our Kiwis onto the side.

Like Ross said, like this is the first time that a lot of us or a group of us have been able to come over to this side and play rugby.

I’m hopeful that a lot more girls will put their hand up to come and play in this comp because I think that we can really add value, a bit of New Zealand flair.

So yeah, I’m hopeful that a lot of the girls will come over.

Did it help that two of you were signing at the same time?

Yeah, it’s cool to have Layla [Sae] here.

I think we complement each other in the way that we play.

She’s a beast and she’s an athlete.

So I’m excited to see what she can bring to this team.

What do you think of the fans and fan culture here? Because it feels quite unique, the way the fans embrace it.

Yeah, I love it.

They love their rugby here and they love supporting their teams and it’s quite different to New Zealand because we’re still growing in that space.

I’m not used to a big crowd especially with rugby, so yeah I’ve loved being able to hear the atmosphere, hear fans who actually love coming to watch and bring their children along as well, so it’s been cool.

Watching women’s football, just the idea of Chloe Kelly warming up is very similar to Ellie Kildunne (above, left), when the ball comes anywhere near her. You really feel the crowd.

You should probably go to some football while you’re here!

Yeah, I don’t really follow football, but I’d love to go for the atmosphere and to see the crowd.

Can hear the roar while you’re playing and feel your heart rate change?

I’m quite a chill person anyway, and so it doesn’t actually doesn’t really affect me, the noise and stuff. But when I do take time to actually look around it it’s cool to feel the cheers and all the people excited to be there.