Hurricanes Poua are a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team based in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

that competes in the

Super Rugby Aupiki Super Rugby Aupiki is a professional women's rugby union club competition in New Zealand. Its inaugural season was held in March 2022. It is a steppingstone between the Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns. Aupiki translates as ‘''the ascent to ...

competition.

History

Team name

On 7 February 2022, The

Hurricanes A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

revealed the new name of their women’s team – Hurricanes Poua. The new team identity was developed collaboratively by a select committee that included past and present Black Ferns. They drew from preexisting Māori narratives, the team’s identity has a connection to both the Hurricanes region and their people. The name Poua was derived from the Māori narrative of Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earthmother).

Super Rugby Aupiki announced

New Zealand Rugby New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. It was founded in 1892 as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU), 12 years after the first provincial unions in New Zealand. In 1949 it became an affiliate to t ...

announced that an elite women’s competition, consisting of four teams, called Super Rugby Aupiki was confirmed for March 2022. The competition would run for four weeks and the women would be paid for their participation.

Inaugural squad and coaching team named

Hurricanes Poua released a list of players that had signed for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season. Wesley Clarke was appointed as Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua. Former Black Fern,

Victoria Grant Victoria Grant ('' née'' Blackledge; b. 26 August 1982) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. She played for internationally and for Auckland at provincial level. She was recently appointed as Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua. Bi ...

, and Manawatu Cyclones Head Coach, Fusi Feaunati, were named as his assistant coaches.

Sarah Hirini Sarah Hirini (; born 9 December 1992) is a New Zealand women's rugby union player and two-time Olympic medalist. She plays for the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team, and captained the Manawatu Sevens side that took out the 2013 Nati ...

was named to captain the side for their maiden season.

Inaugural season

The Hurricanes Poua were forced to withdraw from their opening match against the

Blues Women The Blues Women's team (known as the Nib Health Funds, nib Blues Women for sponsorship reasons) is a New Zealand professional women's rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. History ...

due to COVID cases and isolation requirements within the team. The teams shared the competition points as the match had been cancelled. After missing out on their opening game, Hurricanes Poua finally got their much awaited debut. They faced

Chiefs Manawa The Chiefs Manawa (officially called the Waitomo Chiefs Manawa for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Chiefs Manawa won t ...

in the second round of competition but were beaten 29–8. Hurricanes Poua recorded their first win in the final round after defeating Matatū 18–6.

2023

was appointed as the new Head Coach of Hurricanes Poua for the 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Current squad

The squad for the

2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season The 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season was the second season of Super Rugby Aupiki (known as Sky Super Rugby Aupiki for sponsorship reasons), a professional women's rugby union club competition organised by New Zealand Rugby. The competition ran from 2 ...

Coaches and management

* Head Coach:

* Assistant Coach: – * Skills Coach: Fusi Feaunati * Resource Coach: Matt Sexton * Team Manager: Mary-Jane Durkin * Doctor: Dr. Lincoln Wharetohunga * Physiotherapist: Kara Fowke * Performance Analyst: Matt Healey * Strength & Conditioning Coach: Luke Vasu

Captain

Coach

Notes:

Official

competition matches only, including finals.

References

External links

Official website
{{Hurricanes Poua squad 2021 establishments in New Zealand Super Rugby Aupiki Rugby union teams in New Zealand Rugby clubs established in 2021 Sport in Wellington