From younger days rising up tackling sheep on her Arrowtown farm, Olive Watherston is a Black Ferns Sevens rookie already being likened to a Sevens legend.
The 21-year-old, who made an impression within the Black Ferns’ victories in Singapore and Perth up to now fortnight, has been in comparison with incomparable double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Hirini (nee Goss).
Watherston performs prop and hooker in sevens, and prides herself most on her resolute defence.
“It’s cool to be in comparison with a mini Gossy. I’m a tough and tumble kind of woman,” Watherston says with a definite southern accent rolling the ‘r’.
“I grew up on a farm, tackling sheep. They’re more durable to cease than people as a result of they’re quicker and don’t have a goal to purpose at.”
Watherston has already performed six SVNS tournaments, successful titles in Cape City, Dubai, Singapore and Perth.
Final weekend, in a sweltering Perth, the Black Ferns Sevens have been too scorching to deal with on World Rugby Sevens Participant of the Yr Jorja Miller’s twenty second birthday. They received the Australian Sevens title for the fourth time – and for the primary time for the reason that occasion moved west in 2023. Hosts Australia have been subdued 29-7 within the remaining, snapping a 10-game successful streak at HBF Park.
Per week earlier, the Black Ferns Sevens overpowered Australia 36-7 within the Singapore decider as they prolonged their file within the Lion Metropolis to 15-0.
Within the Singapore remaining, substitute Watherston grabbed a turnover that led on to Katelyn Vahaakolo’s final strive. Earlier, she had scored her first strive in black in a file 64-0 thrashing of Nice Britain.
France have been cussed opponents within the Perth semifinals, main twice. Substitute Watherston helped break their resistance with a textbook turnover that led to a strive for the prolific Vahaakolo.
Rugby runs in Watherston’s blood. “My mum was a very good rugby participant. My oldest sister performed for Melville in Hamilton. I suppose you can say we adore it,” she says.
Whereas at Wakatipu Excessive Faculty, Watherston was fortunate the rugby group had been revived after a hiatus. It was coached by former All Blacks Sevens consultant Brad Fleming, initially from Tauranga.
“There have been 4 groups, not loads of video games. Generally we solely had 13 gamers. In my final yr, we received. That was large,” Watherston mirrored.
“For some time, I did equestrian, eventing, present leaping, and searching. I by no means obtained far. We couldn’t afford good horses. We all the time obtained the younger ones or the naughty ones.”
In December 2020, Watherston was chosen for the Ignite Sevens in Mt Maunganui, enjoying alongside Olympic gold medallists Ruby Tui, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Michaela Brake. She was thought of too younger to remain on the group lodge and was as a substitute billeted by Black Ferns Sevens coach Cory Sweeney.
“That was the primary time I noticed Sarah Hirini in individual. I used to be loads smaller then – I obtained bowled by Dhys Faleafaga. That was scary,” Watherston laughed.
In 2021, she performed two video games for the Otago Spirit within the Farah Palmer Cup: a 31-3 victory over Bay of Loads and a 72-24 humbling by the hands of Canterbury throughout that group’s 27-game successful streak.
Stressed Watherston did sufficient in these video games to catch the attention of James “Ports” Porter, the academy and improvement supervisor at Bay of Loads Rugby.
“Every little thing you affiliate with Southern grit, that’s Olive. Robust, sensible, bold and unassuming,” Porter says.
With the endorsement of Fleming and Sweeney, Watherson relocated from Arrowtown to Mt Maunganui, the place the Black Ferns Sevens are primarily based. She was solely in Yr 12 at school.
“You assist out with the preliminary motion, short-term lodging, faculty placement, and some contacts,” explains Porter. “In any other case, the athletes and their households need to be able to make the swap right into a high-performance set-up and a brand new metropolis.
“Olive may be very pushed. She has skilled the home down, discovered employment and a bunch household, which needs to be an natural factor.”
Watherston has labored in a sports activities store, milked on dairy farms, and finished no matter jobs she will be able to to work in along with her sport. She additionally research sport and human efficiency part-time.
“I’m very grateful to have Nicki and Doug as my host household. They each work within the medical discipline. Keenan is my ‘brother’ – he’s 12. Generally I’ve to maintain him in line,” she laughs.
In 2022, Watherston debuted for Bay of Loads within the FPC and has performed 9 video games. In 2023, she was contracted to the Chiefs Manawa for Tremendous Rugby Aupiki however was injured and didn’t play.
By January 2024, she’d joined the Matakesi Sevens group, based by Hirini, who received the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji.
A spot on an invitational group for the Hong Kong 10s in April adopted. After touchdown a Black Ferns improvement contract, she performed in two worldwide tournaments in France in June. In a kind of tournaments in Haguenau, New Zealand was victorious.
After that, Watherston didn’t play for 5 months – first struggling a torn shoulder after which a sprained collarbone.
“Younger recruits within the high-performance area are sometimes damaged earlier than they arrive. They play every little thing with little regard for his or her our bodies, they usually need to be constructed once more with new diets, health club packages, and administration of workload,” says Porter.
“Sarah Hirini turned a nine-month harm right into a six-month restoration and received a gold medal in Paris. Kane Williamson was the identical, scoring a check century on his return. You’ve obtained to have the ability to roll up your sleeves and get on with it. In that regard, Olive is excellent.”
Watherson debuted for the Black Ferns Sevens in Cape City 2024. Coach Cory Sweeney famous: “Olive has a tremendous work fee, power and an actual relentlessness about her recreation; she’s an thrilling expertise.”
Quick ahead to February 2026 and the Black Ferns Sevens are as thrilling as ever. Their win in Perth was their forty fifth out of 57 SVNS finals and their twenty fourth in 34 finals in opposition to Australia. They’ve received three of 4 tournaments within the 2025-26 SVNS season, main the league standings by 4 factors with three tournaments to play. Previously 11 tournaments, the Black Ferns Sevens have received the Cup eight instances with a 53-4 file in all matches.
Watherston is among the many stars. “I wouldn’t say shocked. It feels good. I simply put my head down and work the toughest I can.”
