Honey Hireme

Honey Hireme-Smiler MNZM
Hireme in 2021
Personal information
Born (1981-05-03) 3 May 1981 (age 43)
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight82 kg (12 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Papakura
2018 St George Illawarra 3 4
Total 3 0 0 0 4
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–2020 New Zealand 32 0
Rugby union career
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2016 Waikato 36 (160)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2017 New Zealand 18 (75)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2013 New Zealand 7s

Arneta Honey Hireme-Smiler MNZM (born 3 May 1981) is a former New Zealand rugby football player who has represented her country in rugby league, rugby sevens and rugby union. Due to her multi-sport career, Hireme-Smiler has been referred to as Honey Bill Williams, in reference to her New Zealand male counterpart Sonny Bill Williams.[1][2]

Rugby league career

From Putāruru, South Waikato, Hireme-Smiler played rugby league for Putaruru Dragons from 5 years old and then onto the senior women's grades playing for the Papakura Sea Eagles club in the Auckland Rugby League women's competition. She has represented Counties Manukau, Bay of plenty, Waikato and Waicoa Bay in the New Zealand Rugby League's women's competition over her 20-year career at representative level.[3]

Hireme-Smiler has played in four Rugby League World Cups, she played for the Kiwiferns in the 2003 Women's world cup 2008 and 2013 World Cups.[3] She captained the team in 2013.[4] She was named in the world women's rugby league in all 4 world cup tournaments, and also awarded player of the Tournament in 2013.

She played in the 2017 Rugby League world cup representing the kiwiferns finishing the tournament as the highest try scorer and finalist for player of the tournament.

In June 2018, Hireme-Smiler joined the St. George Illawarra Dragons ahead of the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership commencing in September 2018.[5] She co-captained the New Zealand women's rugby league team, with Laura Mariu, between the pair they had over 36 years of experience at international level. She was awarded NZ women's rugby league player of the year in 2018 her third time winning top honours. She was also a finalist in 2018 for the International Women's Golden boot award.

Rugby union career

XVs

In rugby union, she plays and coaches Melville women's Premier rugby team and represents Waikato in the women's provincial championship.[3][6]

She made her New Zealand rugby union debut at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, where she was named to the World Cup Dream Team and the World XV team.[4][7]

She competed in the Women's Rugby Super Series in 2015 and 2019.

Hireme-Smiler appeared for the Black Ferns in the 2016 Laurie O'Reilly Cup against the Wallaroos, scoring tries in both test matches.[8][9][10]

Sevens

Hireme-Smiler has played for the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team in the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup in Moscow.[4] She has also played for New Zealand on the IRB Women's Sevens World Series and represented New Zealand Maori in sevens.[11][12]

In 2014, she also became one of New Zealand's first contracted sevens players.[4]

Honours and awards

She was:

References

  1. ^ Michael Burgess (30 April 2013). "League: 'Honey Bill' eyes another World Cup". Herald on Sunday. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  2. ^ CALEY WILSON (9 November 2014). "'Honey Bill' has resume to put Sonny to shame". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Goile, Aaron (14 November 2012). "'Honey Bill Williams' is the centre of attention" – via Stuff.co.nz.
  4. ^ a b c d Wilson, Caley (9 November 2014). "'Honey Bill' has resume to put Sonny to shame" – via Stuff.co.nz.
  5. ^ "Marquee quartet further boosts Dragons' Women's Premiership squad". Dragons.com.au. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Honey Hireme - allblacks.com".
  7. ^ "Womens RWC – #WRWC2014 Dream Team revealed after fan vote". 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Black Ferns vs Australia (Game 1)". stats.allblacks.com. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  9. ^ Julian, Adam (24 May 2024). "A history of the prestigious Laurie O'Reilly Cup". allblacks.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Black Ferns vs Australia (Game 2)". stats.allblacks.com. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  11. ^ "'Honey Bill Williams' stars in rugby and league". 28 April 2013 – via New Zealand Herald.
  12. ^ "Honey Hireme: A force to be reckoned with – Fitness Journal". 9 November 2015.
  13. ^ "New Year honours list 2020". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.