French
DeutschLeilani Perese
| Date of birth | 1 January 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Wairoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 125 kg (276 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Leilani Perese (born 1 January 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She debuted for the Black Ferns in 2018. She also plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and represents Counties Manukau provincially.
Rugby career
[edit]2010–16
[edit]In 2010 Perese studied for a Bachelor of Physical Education degree at the University of Auckland.[1] She made 15 appearances for Auckland from 2012 to 2014 before switching to Counties Manukau in 2016.[2]
2018
[edit]Perese was included in the historic Black Ferns squad that received contracts in 2018.[3] She made her debut for New Zealand against Australia in the first of two test matches in 2018 in Sydney.[1][4] She earned her second cap in their 45–17 victory in the second test match.[5]
Three months after making her debut, she was named in the Black Ferns squad for the November tests against the United States and France.[6] She came off the bench in her sides 67–6 routing of the Eagles.[7][8][9] She played both matches against France, they won the first test 14–0 in Toulon, but lost the second test 27–30 in Grenoble.[10][11][12]
2019–20
[edit]Perese was selected for the Black Ferns squad for the 2019 Women's Rugby Super Series in San Diego, she featured in all four games.[13][14] She faced the Wallaroos again, a year after her debut, winning both tests 47–10 and 37–8.[15][16] In 2020 she was named in the Black Ferns contracted squad.[17]
2022
[edit]Perese appeared for Hurricanes Poua in the inaugural 2022 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[18][19] She was selected for the Black Ferns squad for the 2022 Pacific Four Series.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Perese is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāpuhi descent) and in early 2024, she became famous for creating a haka for the Hurricanes Poua as a way of protesting against the current New Zealand government and in defense of the rights of the Māori people.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ali, Imran (28 July 2018). "Hard work starts for new Black Fern". NZ Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Leilani Perese #198". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns contracted squad named in historic announcement". RUGBY HEARTLAND. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Wenzel, Murray; Gilhooly, Daniel (25 July 2018). "Wallaroos name squad for back to back Tests against the Black Ferns". Fox Sports. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos second Test". allblacks.com. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns squad for November Tests named". RUGBY HEARTLAND. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "TEST PREVIEW: Black Ferns v USA". allblacks.com. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Eagles hammered by Black Ferns in Chicago". Americas Rugby News. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Goile, Aaron (3 November 2018). "Black Ferns cruise past USA for comfortable win in Chicago". Stuff. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "France aim to bounce back against World Champion All Blacks". Six Nations Rugby. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Test preview: Black Ferns v France (2)". allblacks.com. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Rugby: Black Ferns fall to France in second test". Newshub. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "New look Black Ferns headed for San Diego". Americas Rugby News. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns ready for World Cup rematch". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Wallaroos to face experienced Black Ferns - Nine Wide World of Sports". wwos.nine.com.au. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Wallaroos make two changes for second Test". ESPN.com. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Ferns 2020 Test matches announced". NZ Rugby. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Hurricanes Poua named to face Chiefs Manawa in debut Sky Super Rugby Aupiki match". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Hurricanes Poua named for Matatū clash". superrugby.co.nz. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "31-strong Black Ferns squad named for home June Test series". allblacks.com. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Rugby team sparks row in NZ after calling government 'rednecks' in haka". The Guardian. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.