Selica Winiata

Selica Winiata (born 14 November 1986) is a New Zealand Rugby union player and referee. She plays for the Black Ferns, the Black Ferns Sevens and provincially for the . She was part of the Black Ferns 2014 and Champion 2017 Rugby World Cup squads. She won a silver medal with the Black Ferns Sevens team at the inaugural women's 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament and a gold medal at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Rugby career

XVs Winiata attended Freyberg High School and made her provincial debut for the Manawatū Cyclones in 2001, aged 14. She made her international debut for the Black Ferns in 2008 against the Wallaroos.

Winiata appeared in three Tests against England in July 2013. She scored a dramatic winning-try in the second test to help New Zealand clinch the series against England in Hamilton. She was included in New Zealand's squad to play at the 2015 Women's Rugby Super Series.

In 2016, She featured against the Wallaroos in the Laurie O'Reilly Cup where she scored four tries in the first test, and one try in the second. In November that year, She scored two braces, against Canada and Ireland. She was named New Zealand Rugby women's player of the year for 2016.

Winiata competed at the 2017 Women's Rugby Super Series. She was named in the squad for the 2017 Rugby World Cup. She scored two tries in the final against England.

On 18 August 2018, She appeared for the Black Ferns side against Australia in a Bledisloe Cup double-header at Sydney. In August, She scored a try in her sides 47–10 victory over Australia in the opening of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup.

Winiata signed with the Hurricanes Poua for the inaugural 2022 season of Super Rugby Aupiki.

In 2023, She made her 100th appearance for the Manawatū Cyclones against Otago in the sixth round of the Farah Palmer Cup in Dunedin.

Referee Winiata made her international officiating debut at the 2019 Oceania Women’s Sevens in Fiji.

Personal life Winiata is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāti Raukawa descent). In addition to being a Rugby Union player, referee and police officer (Senior Constable), she also works as a rugby commentator for Sky TV.