Holmes sparks Hurricanes Poua to back-to-back wins for first time in franchise history

Renee Holmes has ignited a historic turnaround at Hurricanes Poua, contributing 39 points at first-five-eighth as the Super Rugby Aupuki side claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since the franchise was founded — defeating Chiefs Manawa 34-29 on 27 June and then dismantling champions the Blues 45-30 a week later.

The wins arrived after a difficult start to the season. Against Manawa, Poua rallied from 14-3 down and with a player in the sin bin after a red card, with Holmes scoring a try and kicking all four conversions and two penalties for 19 points. The following week she added 20 more against the Blues — four conversions and four penalties — missing just one shot at goal across her last 15 attempts. The team scored nine tries across those two matches after managing only three in their opening two games. The Blues victory also set franchise records for biggest winning margin, most points scored in a match, and most conversions and penalties.

Holmes, primarily a Black Ferns full-back, said the move to ten was a deliberate step toward personal development. “I came to Poua for game time and growth,” she told RugbyPass. “The Hurricanes presented me with the opportunity to become a game driver with greater minutes in a new environment, which sounded like a great way to learn more about myself and my game.”

The 26-year-old acknowledged the positional shift has not been without difficulty. “The biggest challenge is being the voice that drives the team and seeing space from a different perspective. Typically at full-back, you have more time and space. At first-five, you have to create space in tighter quarters.”

She also pointed to the longer-term value of the experiment. “Ten is a position where there isn’t a lot of depth in New Zealand. Moving forward, it’s definitely an option internationally. Conversely, I feel like I’ve learned so much playing ten, I can transfer some of those lessons to make me a better full-back.”

New head coach Hayden Triggs, a former Manawatu and Maori All Blacks lock, has been credited with shifting the culture at the squad. He is joined by Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns Emma Jensen and Mel Bossman on the coaching staff. Holmes said initial scepticism about a male coach entering the women’s game quickly gave way to confidence. “When I heard Triggsy speak, he had so much passion and energy. He’s straight to the point but with empathy, and we know regardless of his tone, it comes from a good place.”

Holmes described belief as the defining theme of Poua’s resurgence. “Triggsy has allowed us leaders to drive standards on and off the field. We live in a centralised NZCIS hub where the Black Ferns have trained. It’s a world-class facility, and more time together is making a huge difference.”

Poua had lost their season opener to the Blues 42-7 before a narrow 18-15 defeat to Matatu showed early signs of improvement. The two subsequent victories represent the sharpest upturn in form the franchise has produced.