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Tysha Ikenasio

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Tysha Ikenasio
Date of birth (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 27)
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Rugby union career
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2022–  New Zealand 19
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team competition

Tysha Ikenasio (born 13 September 1997) is a New Zealand rugby sevens player. She has also represented New Zealand in tag and touch rugby.

Early life

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Tysha Ikenasio was born on 13 September 1997 in Auckland. She attended Sancta Maria College in Auckland and played netball and touch rugby representatively.[1][2] She competed for New Zealand at the 2015 Touch World Cup in Australia.[1] It was while in Year 12 at the college that she played her first sevens rugby when the school established their first girls sevens team in 2014.[2] Prior to finishing her education in 2015 she was twice co-winner of the Middle School Sportswoman of the Year and twice Senior School Sportswoman of the Year.

Career

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Ikenasio played sevens professionally in Japan for five years, she played for the Tokyo Phoenix for two years before moving to the Nagato Blue Angels.[2][3][4]

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic brought an end to the Japanese competition and so Ikenasio returned to New Zealand. With little opportunities to play rugby, she played rugby league for a season with the Richmond Roses in the Auckland premiership.[5]

The only chance to play sevens rugby during this period was when she was asked by co-coach Rocky Khan to play for Moana Pasifika in the 2021 Takiwhitu Tuturu Sevens in Wellington.[2][6]

New Zealand sevens

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In 2022 while working full time as a personal trainer she was approached by Cory Sweeney and as a result obtained a position on the Black Ferns Sevens Development Team.[2] She played for the Black Ferns Pango team at the 2022 Oceania Sevens at Pukekohe.[7] She was named as a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[8][9]

2023 Premier Rugby Sevens

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In May 2023, Ikenasio revealed she was going to play Premier Rugby Sevens in the United States during the New Zealand sevens off-season. Ikenasio signed with the Texas Team, suiting up alongside Black Ferns teammate, Alena Saili.[10][11]

Ikenasio ended the year totaling, 15 carries, 10 points, nine tackles, two tries, and two steals. Team went 1-3 throughout the season picking up their lone win at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. against the Pittsburgh Steeltoes. Texas dominated Pittsburgh, shutting them out 29-0.[12]

Ikenasio tallied one try in the Eastern Conference Kickoff at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tx. At this event, the Team went 0-2 falling to the New York Locals and the Steeltoes.[13]

She scored her second try at the Eastern Conference Finals in Pittsburgh where the squad went 1-1, falling to the Southern Headliners by one point and topping the Steeltoes.[14][15]

2023-24

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She retained her contact with the Zealand Black Ferns Sevens though the 2023-2024 season. She was a travelling reserve for the New Zealand Women's Rugby Sevens team that won the gold medal in the rugby sevens competition at the Paris Olympics [16]

Move to the Warriors

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In December 2024 Ikenasio signed a three year contract to play rugby league for the New Zealand Warriors women's tea commencing in 2025.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tysha Ikenasio – the talent behind the name". Sancta Maria College. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Julian, Adam (13 May 2022). "Tysha Ikenasio joins Black Ferns Sevens fulltime". All Blacks. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  3. ^ Stanley, Ashley (25 May 2021). "Super Rugby: Culture and values a winning recipe for Moana Pasifika". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Moana Pasifika women make rugby history". RNZ. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Black Ferns Sevens player Tysha Ikenasio joins Warriors". RNZ. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Moana Pasifika women make rugby history". RNZ. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend". allblacks.com. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". All Blacks. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Sevens players to take part in Premier Rugby Sevens". All Blacks. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  11. ^ "New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season | Premier Rugby Sevens". PR Sevens. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  13. ^ "R ecord Crowd Sees Headliners and Team Triumph in Austin | Premier Rugby Sevens". PR Sevens. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Pittsburgh has a new Big Ben - Men's Steeltoes win their Home Debut and Qualify for Premier Rugby Sevens Championship | Premier Rugby Sevens". PR Sevens. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  16. ^ Kermeen, Mat (20 June 2024). "Sevens star Sarah Hirini completes 'unbelievable' recovery for Paris Olympics". Stuff. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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