Sarah Hirini signs new deal to chase fourth Olympic medal with Black Ferns Sevens

Sarah Hirini has signed a two-year contract with New Zealand Rugby, extending her Black Ferns Sevens career through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and cementing her status as the longest-serving professionally contracted female player in New Zealand rugby history.

The legendary captain, who has guided New Zealand to two Olympic gold medals and one silver across three Games, is targeting a fourth medal in LA. “I’ve done everything that I have ever dreamed of so now being able to make it back would be a huge dream,” Hirini said. “Anything that happens now I’ll be extremely happy with.”

Hirini’s return was far from certain after Paris. A serious ACL injury had left her feeling she hadn’t played enough to call it quits, but she was also unsure about committing to another full four-year cycle. The picture changed significantly when she fell pregnant between returning from Japan and re-entering the New Zealand training environment.

Her son Masaru — whose name means “victory” — was born in May while Hirini and her husband Conor were based in Japan. In a moment that captures the pace of her life, the new contract arrived the day she went into labour. “There was a bit to work through,” she acknowledged.

Conor, who had been coaching in Japan, has put that role on hold and the family relocated back to New Zealand last month. With his support secured, Hirini says the decision ultimately became straightforward. “I don’t know if having Masaru shifted how we felt, but I think once we had him, my body was feeling good and I had Conor’s support so here we are; we’re going again.”

Having first signed a professional contract in 2012, Hirini will have spent more than half her life in the Black Ferns Sevens programme by the time this deal expires in 2028. She describes the coming years as “bonus time” and is already back in modified training alongside fellow new mothers Michaela Brake and Shiray Kaka.

Her ambitions remain undiminished. “Giving birth and seeing other women athletes come back to their sport is hugely inspiring,” she said. “To be able to maybe win another World Series title and then go to another Olympics and win a fourth Olympic medal would be amazing.”