Tysha Ikenasio

Tysha Ikenasio
Date of birth (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 27)
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Rugby union career
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2022–  New Zealand 19
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team competition

Tysha Ikenasio (born 13 September 1997) is a New Zealand rugby sevens player.

Rugby career

Ikenasio attended Sancta Maria College in Auckland and played netball and touch rugby representatively.[1][2] She competed for New Zealand at the 2015 Touch World Cup in Australia.[1]

Ikenasio played sevens professionally in Japan for five years, she played for the Tokyo Phoenix for two years before moving to the Nagato Blue Angels.[2][3][4]

Ikenasio joined the Black Ferns Sevens Development Team in 2022.[2] She played for the Black Ferns Pango team at the 2022 Oceania Sevens at Pukekohe.[5] She was named as a non-travelling reserve for the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[6][7]

2023 Premier Rugby Sevens

In May 2023, Ikenasio revealed she was going to play for Premier Rugby Sevens in the United States. Ikenasio signed with the Texas Team, suiting up alongside Black Ferns teammate, Alena Saili.[8][9]

Ikenasio ended the year totaling, 15 carries, 10 points, nine tackles, two tries, and two steals. Team went 1-3 throughout the season picking up their lone win at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. against the Pittsburgh Steeltoes. Texas dominated Pittsburgh, shutting them out 29-0.[10]

Ikenasio tallied one try in the Eastern Conference Kickoff at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tx. At this event, the Team went 0-2 falling to the New York Locals and the Steeltoes.[11]

She scored her second try at the Eastern Conference Finals in Pittsburgh where the squad went 1-1, falling to the Southern Headliners by one point and topping the Steeltoes.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Tysha Ikenasio – the talent behind the name". Sancta Maria College. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Julian, Adam (13 May 2022). "Tysha Ikenasio joins Black Ferns Sevens fulltime". allblacks.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  3. ^ Stanley, Ashley (25 May 2021). "Super Rugby: Culture and values a winning recipe for Moana Pasifika". Stuff. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Moana Pasifika women make rugby history". RNZ. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend". allblacks.com. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Rugby Sevens teams named for Commonwealth Games". allblacks.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Experienced New Zealand sevens squads revealed for Commonwealth Games". Stuff. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Sevens players to take part in Premier Rugby Sevens". allblacks.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  9. ^ "New Zealand Rugby Stars Sign with Premier Rugby Sevens for 2023 Season | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Record Crowd Sees Headliners and Team Triumph in Austin | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Pittsburgh has a new Big Ben - Men's Steeltoes win their Home Debut and Qualify for Premier Rugby Sevens Championship | Premier Rugby Sevens". www.prsevens.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.