International rugby star Risi Pouri-Lane loves returning to where her sporting journey began.
The 26-year-old was back in Motueka during her off-season break and was barracking for Kahurangi as it won the Tasman Trophy Women’s final in Riwaka on Saturday.
Two of her former Motueka High School teammates, Lyric Siaki and Emily Kelly, scored tries as Kahurangi beat the Waimea Women 46-13.
Kahurangi captain Hannah Kelly had also been in the MHS girls’ rugby side from a decade ago.
“It was a very good high school team. We made the Tasman Trophy final nearly every single year we played but only won it once,” recalls Risi, who was a first five back then before her New Zealand Sevens call-up in 2017.
“It is good for me to get away from Tauranga, as that’s where work is. I have come home and switched off from rugby apart from supporting the girls here today. It is really cool to see them still playing and winning a premiership.”
She’s accustomed to that winning feeling with two Olympic gold medals, a Commonwealth Games one as well, and countless world sevens series successes too.
The halfback also debuted for the Black Ferns 15-aside team last year.
“There was a chance I could have played Super Rugby Aupiki this season, but I definitely needed a break after the Olympics, sevens and 15’s. So, I came home, spent time with the family and reset,” says the 2024 and 2025 Sport Tasman Supreme Sports Award winner.
“I am coming up 10 years in sevens, but the family always gives me their two cents worth and keeps me grounded.”
She’s also in the perfect place to offer advice to her younger brother Rei, the Nelson College 1st XV captain, who cracked his hand mid-season.
“I said to him, there is always a reason for everything, and it’s given him a chance to rest his body. He had a niggly knee as well. The biggest thing is to enjoy any opportunity you can get at that age,” enthuses the Black Ferns Sevens co-captain when they won Olympic Gold in Paris in 2024.
Her partner Isaac Te Aute has tread a very similar path to Risi.
The Rotorua Boys’ 1st XV captain was fast tracked into the All Black Sevens in 2015 while still at high school.
“We go hunting together when we come down here. We have been lucky to go with some of Isaac’s mates. They know the best locations, but I am keeping them secret.”
There’s no hiding Risi's rugby success though with 70 tries in her 143-game sevens career, and she kicks goals as well.
She returns to pre-season training, in the warmer climes of the Bay of Plenty, on 10 August ahead of the next sevens series which starts in Dubai in December.
Several of her former teammates or rivals have switched to rugby league and she thought about changing codes too.
“But while they are soaking up that experience, I am making the most of my time in sevens,” confirms Risi, who is signed with NZ Rugby through to 2028.
