Ruby Tui: New Zealand Black Ferns star to play Premier Rugby Sevens in US

The World Cup and Olympic gold-winning New Zealand winger Ruby Tui will play in the US this summer in Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s), a multi-tournament competition in which men’s and women’s teams compete for one trophy.

Announcing the move, Tui said: “I’ve been a massive fan of Premier Rugby Sevens and what they’ve done for women’s rugby since they formed in 2021 in the United States.”

At 31, Tui is one of the biggest stars in world rugby, a member of the Black Ferns team who beat England to win the 15-a-side World Cup in front of 42,579 fans in Auckland last November.

She has recently taken time away from the game. Last week, she announced a new two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union but also said she was “taking an immediate sabbatical”.

On Tuesday, she added: “To help grow our game around the world, especially in a place like the US, is an opportunity I take very seriously. PR7s has an awesome model for their competition, with equal pay and opportunity for men and women. And I’m absolutely buzzing to play some sevens again!”

Tui’s PR7s team remains to be confirmed. Women’s and men’s players are assigned to eight franchises, each identified with a region or city.

Owen Scannell, chief executive of PR7s, said: “Having Ruby come and compete in Premier Rugby Sevens at the height of her playing career is an unprecedented historic moment for the sport of rugby and women’s sports across the United States.

“Not only is Ruby a superstar on the field, but she is also one of the greatest ambassadors for rugby and most significant advocates for women’s sports globally.

“She has already captured the attention of millions of new fans around the world, and we can’t wait for her to join our efforts to build the game in the US.”