Super Rugby Aupiki: Hurricanes sign Gisborne Black Fern Renee Holmes

Black Ferns fullback Renee Holmes sets up for a conversion attempt at last year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Holmes is to play for the Hurricanes Poua in this year's Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Photo / Getty Images

Gisborne-born-and-bred Black Fern Renee Holmes has signed to play for the Hurricanes Poua in this year’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

The fullback joins the Poua after two seasons with the Chiefs Manawa.

“I’m super-excited to be joining this team,” Holmes said in a release by the Hurricanes.

“I love the culture and the vibes, the style of rugby the Poua play, and I’m excited about the opportunity to chase the Hurricanes’ first-ever Super Rugby Aupiki title. I cannot wait to be a part of it.

“I’m also super-excited to work under Trigs [head coach Hayden Triggs]. I’ve heard nothing but good things and I can already feel his passion for this team and I’m looking forward to seeing where he can help take my game.”

The 26-year-old goalkicker brings plenty of domestic and international pedigree to the Poua.

Formerly a New Zealand age-grade representative in football, taekwondo and ultimate frisbee, Holmes made her first-class rugby debut as a teenager with Hawke’s Bay in 2017.

She has since forged an impressive playing career, which includes a Rugby World Cup title with the Black Ferns on home soil four years ago, a 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki championship with Matatū and Farah Palmer Cup success with Waikato in 2021.

Holmes has made 29 test appearances and scored 199 points for the Black Ferns since making her non-test debut for the side against the New Zealand Barbarians in 2020.

She featured prominently during last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign in England and has won the Pacific Four Series twice and the Laurie O’Reilly Cup four times while representing the Black Ferns.

In addition to her time with Hawke’s Bay and Waikato, Holmes has also played provincially for Bay of Plenty, and will embark on her fifth Super Rugby Aupiki campaign after two seasons each with the Chiefs Manawa and Matatū.

Triggs said he was thrilled to welcome a player of her calibre to his side.

“The club is excited to provide a homecoming of sorts to a Gisborne-born talent in Renee,” Triggs said.

“The more I shared the vision for the club and the team to Renee, the more there was a shared enthusiasm about what the future holds for the Poua.

“Signing Renee is a big step in reshaping the Poua programme. She is a humble, kind person, a dedicated athlete, a world-class competitor and is the type of player we want our next Poua players to see and replicate for future squads.

“We are also driven to develop her game and leadership in the club, both on and off the field, to find a new ceiling in her game.

“As a team and a club, we can’t wait to see Renz in a black-and-yellow jersey uniting and exciting our Hurricanes fans in Super Rugby Aupiki 2026.”

The remainder of the 2026 Hurricanes Poua squad will be announced in due course.