The Black Ferns Sevens warm-up shirts. Photo / Twitter
The Black Ferns Sevens warm-up shirts. Photo / Twitter
The Black Ferns Sevens made a special tribute to the victims of the Christchurch mosque attack when they stepped on to the field at this weekend's World Series tournament in Japan.
The women's side wore warm-up shirts with the names of the 50 victims and the hashtag 'They Are Us'printed on the back.
Black Ferns centre Niall Williams, sister of All Black and devout Muslim Sonny Bill Williams, spoke about what the tribute meant to her side.
"It's something pretty close to my heart and our whole country's heart," Williams told All Blacks TV. "As a whole, we've all come together and the best thing is speaking up and acknowledging what has happened and as a country how we can be better and move forward.
"It's a small gesture but just anything to show that solidarity from our team is something I thought would be pretty cool."
Williams described the pain she felt after the terror attack last month and said she hoped the shirts would stand as a gesture of remembrance.
"It's close to me having two older brothers who are strong Muslims and now also my mum and the hurt that I heard and felt in their hearts and their voices on that day was really heartbreaking for myself.
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 27: Niall Williams and Stacey Waaka of the Black Ferns Sevens celebrate after winning against France during day two of the 2019 Hamilton Sevens at FMG Stadium on Januar
"To me, that's my family and to them, that is their family, so for myself, we are all family and I feel like our country has come together and acknowledged that too.
"My message from us to you is that this weekend it's about remembering your loved ones ... this is just a small gesture to say we do remember and we will always remember: they are us."
The Black Ferns Sevens are on track to set a new record of a 38-match winning streak this weekend if they win their game against Russia tonight after beating Japan 43-0.
It could be up to debutants Rhiarna Ferris and Dhys Faleafaga, however, with half a dozen Black Ferns Sevens regulars, including Portia Woodman, Kelly Brazier and Michaela Blyde, unavailable due to injury and illness.
