HISTORIC AWARD CAPS REMARKABLE YEAR FOR ‘YOUNG VETERAN’ VAEILA-UMAGA

Hornby Panthers and Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls back-rower Ripena Vaeila-Umaga capped a monumental season of achievement and leadership by becoming the first wahine player to win the CRL’s Sportsperson of the Year award.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Vaeila-Umaga’s historic capture of the D.V. Syme Rosebowl – and the captaincy roles she has thrived in throughout 2026 – is she is still only 19 years of age.

Vaeila-Umaga described the honour as “special” after being named CRL Sportsperson of the Year at Canterbury Rugby League’s 2026 Awards at the Commodore Hotel on Sunday, collecting a trophy that has names such as Mita Mohi, Barry Edkins, Rodney Walker, Adrian Shelford, Esene Faimalo, Aaron Whittaker, Jonny Limmer, James Baxendale and Shane Tamatea engraved on it.

After coming through the youth grades with Hornby and representing Canterbury and South Island Scorpions (prior to CRL’s return to standalone district status in 2025) at age-group level, Vaeila-Umaga was earmarked as captaincy material virtually as soon as she progressed to senior football.

“I think it just started from the 16s just having that leadership role,” she says.

“I wasn’t the captain or anything, but I was still in the leadership group chat. And then as I started progressing into the women’s, I think it just made me grow as a player, as a leader.

Vaeila-Umaga was a key figure in the Panthers’ drive to the 2024 grand final as the club returned to the women’s competition, ultimately going down to Sydenham Swans.

Fast forward two years and the teenager co-captained Hornby – alongside second-row partner Anika Gates-Thorn – to a thrilling 26-24 victory over Linwood in the 2026 CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership grand final.

Vaeila-Umaga was then named as co-captain of the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls with veteran half Cassie Siataga for their NZRL National Women’s Premiership foray in Hawke’s Bay.

It was her third campaign with the Bulls – and she paid tribute to the senior teammates who have provided guidance and shaped her as a leader.

“The first time I joined Canterbury Bulls, I was in the leadership group – obviously it was a bit intimidating being one of the youngest ones,” Vaeila-Umaga admits.

“Being like 18, freshly 18, and in a leadership role for the women’s was really scary. But I had a lot of role models that I could look up to and learn from.

“Shade (McGregor-Pakau), (Charntay) Poko, Bunty (Kuruwaka-Crowe) – I can’t name all of them, but just all the veterans that have been in the team for a while now, they’re my role models.”

As female playing numbers continue to swell domestically, the popularity of the NRLW soars and the seventh Women’s Rugby League World Cup unfolds, the determined and industrious forward remains humble and grounded in her aspirations in terms of where rugby league can take her.

“I’m not too sure yet, but I’m still playing, I’m still learning,” Vaeila-Umaga says.

“I still want to learn a lot more. People might say that I’m old and I’m a veteran now, but I’m still pretty young and I’m keen to learn a lot more about the sport.”

Meanwhile, Vaeila-Umaga praised the Hornby club for its role in her development and growth as a player, as well as the Panthers’ rise to prominence in Canterbury Rugby League’s women’s space.

“It’s been good to see more Hornby players come into the rep side.

“It’s been a small number, but gradually there’s more and more coming through, which is really, really good to see our women – and at each club – trying to reach to their highest potential and get to the rep [level].”