Iritana Hohaia

BIOGRAPHY

Black Fern #248

Tenacious and lively halfback Iritana Hohaia was a surprise selection for the Black Ferns 2021 Northern Tour after playing just 10 games for Taranaki and missing the entire Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) that season. 

She didn’t feature in any of the four losses in England and France but was back with a vengeance in 2023, earning national honours after an unsettled 2022 where she was hampered by a kidney injury and entertained thoughts of quitting until she joined the National Police College.

“I needed to find my purpose, something other than rugby, which had dominated my life.

Joining the police was about challenging myself. There are so many pathways you can go down. I’m passionate about helping people and the police do that. I love the physical side of it and interacting with people. It’s a whole different persona you’ve got to be. You’re not there for yourself or family, you’re there for the community.

“The Black Ferns are kind of similar. It’s a team environment where you’re exposed to high-pressure moments. You’ve got to be understanding, organised and honest about yourself and to your teammates.”

There is a long history of policewomen in the Black Ferns from pioneering winger Helen Mahon-Stroud, scorer of the first World Cup try in 1991, and World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Fiao’o Fa’amausili, ONZM.

Hohaia is another successful international policewoman. On her Test debut against Australia in Brisbane the Black Ferns thrashed the Wallaroos 50-0, holding the hosts scoreless for the first time since 1997. Hohaia was lively in her half hour off the bench and even scored a try.

“I was running my usual halfback lines, my positive lines, when I saw Amy du Plessis make a break. I was screaming on her inside for the pop and to her credit she gave it away and I was able to score,” Hohaia says.

“I play more of a running game. I like to attack by the rucks or take defenders wider and play near the edge. I’ve played a lot at fullback. I'm used to space. My running game is a point of difference.”

Her running game was evident again. In the 52-21 victory over Canada in Ottawa. The Black Ferns were in a serious fight when only ahead 28-21 after 52 minutes but outstanding contributions from the bench ensured New Zealand finished with a wet sail.

Hohaia’s highlights included a 30 metre break when New Zealand was stuck deep inside their territory and delivering clinical passes that helped create tries for Player of the Match Amy du Plessis and Kelsey Teneti.

The Black Ferns’ victory, in front of a record Canadian crowd of 10,090, was officially their 100th in a Test. 

Ōpunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki. It is located 45 km southwest of New Plymouth. A statue of Peter Snell acknowledges the birthplace of New Zealand’s Sports Champion of the Century. Former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie is another from Ōpunake while Kendra Cocksedge grew up half an hour down the road in Ōkato.

The youngest of five children, including three brothers, Hohaia’s own Ōpunake sports legend was her father and dairy farmer, Russell ‘Chook’ Hohaia. She grew up playing rugby with the boys from primary school. No venue was too far for practice or games.

Oralaith Curran was Women’s Rugby Advisor for the Taranaki Rugby Union from 2017 to 2018. Hohaia credits the Irishwoman with creating greater opportunities for girls to play rugby at high school.

“We had six teams in the local competition when I was at college. We were playing every weekend and there was sevens too, so it was pretty good. Oralaith was amazing with her organisation and support.”

In 2018 Hohaia was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team at the Junior Olympics that won a gold medal in Sydney. 

Better was to come for Hohaia in 2019. She was named Taranaki Whio Player of the Year, but things weren’t easy off the field. Tragically and unexpectedly, her father died in February of that year.

Hohaia would take solace at the Southern Club under the coaching of Devon Berry. Southern started with nine players in 2020, but by 2023 had won three senior championships. The team is captained by lock and policewoman Sharee Brown, Hohaia's partner.

“Southern is a player welfare, whanau-oriented club. They really celebrate their women and acknowledge their achievements. That creates a will to give back, which is awesome.”

Taranaki is one of the smallest unions in the FPC. In 2020 Hohaia scored two tries in their 32-29 win over North Harbour. It was Taranaki’s first win in 21 matches. In 2023 she inspired Taranaki to a 31-19 win over North Harbour in Takapuna. She has scored a record six tries for the Whio. 

Hohaia plays Super Rugby Aupiki for Hurricanes Poua. She has played 12 games and been part of every victory the Poua achieved in their first three seasons: Matatū (18-6, 25-24, 36-29) and Blues 2023 (29-24).

Profile by Adam Julian.