A massive congratulations to Year 12 student Lucy Mahuika who has been selected to join the 2023 NZ U18 Ngā Māreikura Girls Rugby Squad!

Seventeen year old Lucy has been one to watch in the Girls Rugby scene for a while now. She has been playing the sport since the age of four and has made her way up through a number of regional representative teams. Last year she was chosen to join the Mako U18 Women's Tournament Squad and earlier this year she was selected to play for the U18 Nelson Bays Mixed Team. Making it into the U18 NZ Māori Squad was one of her goals last year and she's done it!

Starting with regional trials around the country, 50-60 girls were selected to head to a national training camp in Rotorua to trial for the national team. To be one of 12 selected nationally is an outstanding achievement for Lucy and she was both pleasantly surprised and definitely "pretty stoked." 

Being part of the squad means the 12 girls will meet up together for a week-long training camp in the holidays before playing against the Barbarians (aka "the Baa-Baas") on 6 October. For Lucy, it's the opportunity to see people that have become really good, life-long friends for her that she's most looking forward to about the trip. 

Her future goals are to make it to the Black Ferns one day and for now, she's taking every opportunity open to her. Her selection to the NZ U18 Māori Girls Squad is only for this season so she is also hoping to be selected again next year, and also hoping to make it into the Tasman Makos again too. 

Congratulations again Lucy and we are looking forward to seeing your continued growth and development in Girls Rugby!