Black Ferns Sevens star Stacey Waaka will follow several current and former teammates across to rugby league, after signing for the NRLW Brisbane Broncos.
Waaka won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and will try to repeat that success at Paris in July/August, before crossing the Tasman to contest the women's league competition.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about joining the Broncos family this season, because I know the success they've had in the past, but I'm also so thrilled about this new and exciting opportunity," she said.
"I will do everything in my power to be the best league player I can be when my time comes."
Waaka, 28, will join former NZ sevens teammate Gayle Broughton in a Broncos squad that has won the NRLW crown three times, but were beaten by eventual champions Newcastle Knights in last year's semis.
As Stacey Fluhler, she was also part of the triumphant Black Ferns World Cup campaign in 2022.
"She's the type of player that will prove that you can make the switch from union to league," said Broncos coach Scott Prince. "She'll make an impact with high-flying strong runs.
"She's an excitement machine along the edge. They don't call her the smiling assassin for nothing."
Perhaps the most notable code switch so far has been Black Ferns Sevens teammate Tyla King (formerly Nathan-Wong), who debuted for St George Dragons last season, helped the Kiwi Ferns upset world champions Australia in the Pacific Championship final and was named World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year just days later.
King became world sevens top pointscorer at Los Angeles last weekend.
Black Ferns Sevens star Stacey Waaka will follow several current and former teammates across to rugby league, after signing for the NRLW Brisbane Broncos.
Waaka won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and will try to repeat that success at Paris in July/August, before crossing the Tasman to contest the women's league competition.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about joining the Broncos family this season, because I know the success they've had in the past, but I'm also so thrilled about this new and exciting opportunity," she said.
"I will do everything in my power to be the best league player I can be when my time comes."
Waaka, 28, will join former NZ sevens teammate Gayle Broughton in a Broncos squad that has won the NRLW crown three times, but were beaten by eventual champions Newcastle Knights in last year's semis.
As Stacey Fluhler, she was also part of the triumphant Black Ferns World Cup campaign in 2022.
"She's the type of player that will prove that you can make the switch from union to league," said Broncos coach Scott Prince. "She'll make an impact with high-flying strong runs.
"She's an excitement machine along the edge. They don't call her the smiling assassin for nothing."
Perhaps the most notable code switch so far has been Black Ferns Sevens teammate Tyla King (formerly Nathan-Wong), who debuted for St George Dragons last season, helped the Kiwi Ferns upset world champions Australia in the Pacific Championship final and was named World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year just days later.
King became world sevens top pointscorer at Los Angeles last weekend.
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