Black Ferns rugby union superstar Michaela Blyde has been secured by the One New Zealand Warriors in a major code-swap coup for the club’s return to the NRLW next year.
The 28-year-old Taranaki-raised speedster will join the Warriors on a one-year deal bringing with her an exceptional list of team and individual success on the world stage.
Among her achievements she was the back-to-back World Rugby Sevens women’s player of the year in 2017 and 2018, was in the gold medal-winning Blacks Ferns squad at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games and won Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.
Blyde was also in the Rugby World Cup Sevens winning team in 2018 and has helped the Black Ferns to six World Sevens series triumphs since 2013.
She has scored almost 250 tries in more than 200 sevens appearances on the world stage.
This is so exciting, a real landmark day for the club and for the game attracting a player of Michaela’s exceptional calibre
Cameron George One New Zealand Warriors CEO
“This is so exciting, a real landmark day for the club and for the game attracting a player of Michaela’s exceptional calibre to move from rugby union to join our NRLW squad,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“It says so much about the excitement the NRLW and rugby league generally is generating on the New Zealand sporting landscape.”
One New Zealand Warriors NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths is thrilled to have Blyde on board.
“Michaela is an elite athlete who has succeeded through a steely focus and an unwavering determination. She’s a wonderful acquisition for our programme,” he said.
A lot of excitement has been going through my mind. “I’ve been looking forward to this day for the last few months.
Michaela Blyde One New Zealand Warriors NRLW signing
“Her career has been underpinned by hard work while her attitude and blistering speed will hold her in good stead to transition successfully into the NRLW.
“It was evident from when we first connected that Michaela was excited by this opportunity. We are equally as excited about her signing.”
Blyde completed signing formalities late yesterday paving the way for her code switch to rugby league.
“A lot of excitement has been going through my mind,” she said.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day for the last few months. To sign with the Warriors was a little bit of a surprise for me to be honest but nonetheless I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity the One New Zealand Warriors are offering me.
“I’m excited to be a part of something that’s growing super, super quickly and you’d be silly not to want to be involved in it.
“The Warriors are a team I grew up watching on TV. My family are rugby but when we knew the Warriors were playing on TV we’d change the channel to watch them and support them.”
First drafted into the New Zealand Sevens team as a 17-year-old in 2013, Blyde followed her mother Cherry who played for the Black Ferns in 1992.
Profile | Michaela Blyde
Born: December 29, 1995
Birthplace: New Plymouth, NZ
Club: Clifton (Taranaki)
Position: Halfback/standoff
Height: 165cm
Weight: 66kg
NRLW debut: Yet to make debut
Black Ferns Sevens career: 218 appearances (2013-2024)
Black Ferns Sevens tries: 247
Honours:
Team:
Gold medallist 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Gold medallist 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
Gold medallist 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
Gold medallist 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, San Francisco
Six World Sevens series wins
Silver medallist 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens, Cape Town
Bronze medallist 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
2018 Halberg Awards team of the year
2022 Halberg Awards team of the year
2023 Halberg Awards team of the year
Individual:
2017 World Rugby Sevens women’s player of the year
2018 World Rugby Sevens women’s player of the year
