Selica Winiata

Selica Winiata is the most prolific try-scorer in New Zealand women’s first-class rugby, scoring 112 tries in 131 games by the end of the 2021 season.

With 39 test tries, she sits just four tries behind Vanessa Cootes on the all-time Black Ferns try-scoring list.

Winiata was the first Kiwi women to score 100 first-class tries and holds the Manawatu record for most tries with 70 (the most by any woman for any province)

In 2016 she was in imperious form, scoring 18 tries in 11 games and winning the New Zealand women's player of the year award.

In 2017 she crossed for a double in the World Cup final against England, following her hat-trick in the group victory over Wales.

“When I look back at the final we were down, but at halftime everybody looked at each other and we were composed. We were ready to listen and we did a reverse on them by playing their game in the second-half. They didn’t know how to defend. Our forwards dug deep and must take most of the credit for the victory.

“Coming home to Auckland airport and seeing a mass of people performing, holding banners and sharing gifts in the arrivals area was very special.”

Before the World Cup Winiata showed an All Black she was an unusually menacing threat.

“I spent a week with the Chiefs trying to push myself to be the best in my position. They're massive, a lot faster and stronger than I am, but it was awesome to be involved in their back sessions and even some of the collisions. “At one practice I ran at Damian McKenzie and flattened him to the ground. Everyone was like ‘you got sat down by a female.’ There was a lot of banter."

Diminutive in stature, but blessed with searing pace and superior attacking instincts she made her debut for the Manawatū Cyclones in 2001 while still at Freyberg High School aged 14.

“I got a phone call to play in a Manawatu trial. They must have seen me somewhere but I don't even know where. When I got in the dressing room I was surrounded by fully grown women and thought ‘what the hell am I doing here,’ but rugby is rugby and the lower you go, the harder they fall.”

At the time she was playing basketball, touch, netball, cricket, tennis and soccer, but rugby soon took over and she earned a Black Ferns debut off the bench against Australia in 2008.

It wasn’t until 2013 she established a regular place in the Black Ferns. A late try she scored to win the second test against England at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton was voted by Sky viewers as the fans' try of the year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.

“We were down and all they needed to do was hold onto the ball for a couple of phases and kick it out. Instead they kicked it to us and we had to go the length of the field. It went into the 83rd or 84th minute. It went from side to side, ruck after ruck, but we were able to get it out wide and penetrate them.”

Winiata ran the best part of 80 metres to finish.

“You could hear the crowd getting behind me. I didn't know if there was someone right on my back or not. I just was like, pin my ears back and don’t look back.”

She didn’t look back, appearing in the next 29 consecutive tests and scoring 36 tries.

“It used to be the fullback just sat back and waited, now we can kick, pass, run and inject ourselves. “There isn’t a lot of kicking in the women’s game and that’s exciting. It’s something that’s developing, but we like to be different and try more often than not to have a crack from anywhere.”

Her success hasn’t been confined exclusively to the 15-aside code either. For eight years she was a member of the Black Ferns Sevens appearing in 15 tournaments and scoring 32 tries. She won a World Cup in 2013 and has been a member of five Manawatu teams to capture the National Sevens title. The two tries she scored against Auckland in the 2013 National Sevens in final Queenstown are among her personal favourites. Another highlight in sevens was winning the Hong Kong Sevens four times and the Roma Sevens three times with the Aotearoa Māori Sevens team.

Winiata is a fulltime policewoman dealing with everything from deaths and major car crashes to drink drivers, assaults, and shoplifting. It’s a demanding profession with some similarities to rugby. “You’ve always got to be on your guard, don’t become complacent in your position or let the reputation you’ve built over the years decline. If you let your guard down others will take opportunities.

“I love my job, everyday is different. I love being in the community and helping people in need.”

She has been a pundit on Sky TV and in January 2020 officiated at the HSBC Hamilton Sevens after a long spell doing local rugby. She also helped Manawatu make the Farah Palmer Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2013, finishing the season as the Cyclones top points scorer. In May 2021 she refereed the Black Ferns in the Trans-Tasman sevens series against Australia in Auckland. Portia Woodman was the leading try scorer in the 5-1 success for the Black Ferns. The scores were: 19-0, 15-19, 26-21, 15-12, 33-12 and 24-12. Winiata refereed at the Tokyo Olympic Sevens tournament in 2021.

Her younger sister Kylie played five games as a halfback for Manawatu from 2009-12.

She lives with her parents, Peti, a nail technician, and Andrew, who is in the trucking industry. She is the primary caregiver for two nephews, Kupa and Korbyn.

Former All Black coach and twice World Cup winner Wayne Smith is a big fan.

“Women kick less which is a major benefit for me. It’s not that women are limited in their ability to kick, Kendra Cocksedge and Chelsea Alley are tactically astute and skilled in this regard, but they tend to play more classically with an emphasis on moving the ball and playing positively. Selica Winiata is the epitome of this. What a player.”

Profile by Adam Julian