Chryss Viliko

BIOGRAPHY

Black Fern #254

Chryss Viliko is a sturdy and bustling prop who powered her way into the Black Ferns in 2023 after an explosive Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) for Premiership champions Auckland. She was named Storm Player of the Year when Auckland won their first FPC title since 2015.

In the final at Rugby Park, Christchurch, Auckland upset Canterbury 39-27 with Viliko outmuscling veteran tighthead and Rugby World Cup winner Pip Love, who missed out on selection for the subsequent Laurie O’Reilly Cup Test against Australia and inaugural World XV1 series.

“I found out I was in the Black Ferns after the final in Christchurch. We were at the airport, and I was dragging my suitcase when I got a call from a number I didn’t recognise,” Viliko recalled.

“It was Steve Jackson, the Black Ferns assistant coach. I was sweating in my boots. When he told me I was in I didn’t know what to do and then I embraced my waiting family crying.”

“My debut against Aussie was magical. The whole build-up was amazing, and we won the game in front of our home crowd.”

The Black Ferns beat Australia 43-3, their largest victory against the Wallaroos on home soil since 2016 and their first win in the Waikato since 2013. Viliko produced a solid 32 minutes against a side that proved unexpectedly plucky after being down 31-0 at halftime.

The Black Ferns opened their WXV1 series against France with a 17-18 loss in Wellington. It was a bitter-sweet night for Viliko who won a tighthead and scrum penalty against Clara Joyeux who enjoyed 40 Tests more experience. In the 64th minute, she was red-carded.

“I was lucky Krystal Murray told me the French scrum differently. Their tighthead does this deliberate movement with her head and her shoulder. When I came on, I had thought about how to counter that.  

“I wanted to come on firing. Then that moment happened. I cleared the ruck; well actually I cleared the person who wasn’t in the ruck. I heard the whistle, and my first instinct was why did you do that? I walked away hurriedly and then I saw my face on the screen.

“My parents came down afterward. They were supportive and I was fortunate my teammates got around and supported me. I had to look past it but, in the moment it was dreadful.”

The youngest of six siblings by 15 years and eight grandchildren, Viliko grew up in Māngere East. Her mother Millie is an ESOL teacher, and her father John drove a bus, building another house on the property to reduce crowding. Chryss laughs it made “little difference because we still wanted to be together.”

Viliko attended Onehunga High School and only started taking rugby seriously because her Dad was the coach. Onehunga was “a good team” but always lost the final to Southern Cross because they were “huge.” 

Viliko started as a centre then got moved to No.8 before settling at prop where her potential was harnessed by Marist senior coach JP Faamausili, who won two Coleman Shield titles in 2017 and 2019.

“JP spoke to my Dad and said I had a shot at rugby. When I made the Auckland team in 2019 it was way different to club. The intensity and standards are way higher. I've been lucky to rub shoulders with greats like Aldora Itunu and Alissa Pearl-Nelson.

Viliko has played 30 matches for Auckland (20 wins) helping the Storm win the 2023 Premiership and finish runners-up to Canterbury in 2019 and 2022. She hasn't been injury-free resisting a troublesome knee.

“I didn't know I did my ACL until I joined the Auckland team. I had problems with my knee, but it wasn’t until our physio investigated it properly, she realised that my knee was really loose. I kept playing like that for a year and then I did it again.”

Viliko has played Super Rugby Aupiki for the Blues. In 2024 she helped the Blues win the title for the first time with six wins in seven matches. She was a bully with the ball in hand; her 69 carries were the most by a prop in Aupiki. She was on the field for the whole 80 minutes of the final. Two scrum penalties by the Blues in the last 15 minutes were crucial in flipping a 5-18 deficit. 

She has caught the eye of legendary Manu Samoa prop Census Johnston (60 Tests) who has been a mentor and said in 2024:

“Chryss is a special talent who I expect will be around for a long time. She has a good attitude and a big engine. She can play 80 minutes. Her carry is very good.”

Profile by Adam Julian. 

*Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. The island is commonly referred to as "The Rock", which comes from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia. The population is just over 1600 with 90% of the Niuean population living in New Zealand. Niue became an affiliated member of World Rugby in 1999. All Blacks France Bunce and Piri Weepu are of Niue extraction as is pioneering Black Ferns prop Ana Nemaia. Other famous Niuenans include Paul Fuemana who sang the smash hit How Bizarre and Stephanie Tauevihi who played Donna Heka in Shortland Street.