Katelyn Vahaakolo

BIOGRAPHY

Black Fern #247

Katelyn Vaha'akolo is an expressive and dynamic winger who, within two seasons of playing first class rugby, was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2023. 

“I cried; I wasn’t expecting it. I thought I'd improved but I didn’t think I’d get an award. I thought about all the hard training I'd done and all the people who supported me, " Vahaakolo said after receiving her World Rugby accolade.

In her maiden season she scored five tries in six Tests, including a try in all three matches of the inaugural World XV series against France, Wales, and England. Additionally, she helped the Black Ferns retain the Pacific Four Series and Laurie O'Reilly Cup titles. 

“I wish the second Test against Australia was my debut. I did nothing in Brisbane. In Hamilton I scored my first test try and the girls got around me which was special. I shared a Test with my best friend Patrica Maliepo for the first time.

“My favourite moment was my try against France. It was just the two wingers. Ruby Tui did most of the work, but it was cool having the licence to play freely and execute a kick and chase under pressure.

“The way we trained we should have won the French and English Tests, but we didn’t execute the way we wanted to and should have.

“If I practise the skill or the thing that we’re doing that’s putting me under pressure so many times during training, when it comes to a game, I already consciously know what I’m going to do in that pressure situation. Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it does make permanent.”

Black Ferns Director of Rugby Alan Bunting was full of praise for Vahaakolo: “She's obviously got some pretty amazing attributes. For me, the reason why I'm here is seeing the potential in people, and bringing that to life,” 

The daughter of pastors Edward and Sarah, Vaha'akolo grew up in Auckland. She identifies with Ngāti Whatua, Ngā Puhi and Maniapoto iwi and Tongan village, Nuku'alofa.

She admits she was a “rebellious” child and attended three schools: Epsom Girls Grammar School, Rutherford College, and St Dominic's College before being home schooled. Sport was the catalyst to improve her behaviour.

“Sport pretty much saved my life. It gave me an outlet to express myself. Being in environments where they demand high standards forces you to get better."

Vaha'akolo, who has been open about her struggle with anxiety and mental health*, initially flourished in rugby league. She joined Te Atatu Roosters in 2020 and then made it to the Akarana Falcons and then debuted for the Kiwi Ferns in a win against Samoa. Vaha'akolo delivered the final pass for the last try scored by Black Ferns and Kiwi Ferns legend Honey Hireme-Smiler. 

Vaha'akolo followed friends into rugby. She started at the Marist club and debuted for Auckland in 2022. In two seasons she's made 15 appearances for the Storm and scored nine tries. In 2023 Auckland won the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership for the first time since 2015 upsetting defending champions Canterbury in the final. 

In her debut Super Rugby Aupiki season for the Blues in 2023 she scored three tries in five games and ranked in the top ten for metres gained, defenders beaten and clean breaks.

With eight tries in six matches, including two in the 24-18 win over Chiefs Manawa in the final, Vaha'akolo finished Super Rugby Aupiki 2024 as the leading try scorer. Vaha'akolo scored a breathtaking hat-trick against Hurricanes Poua in Round 3 and her try from halfway against Matatū in a 27-17 win happened against the run of play. She gained the most metres running (701) and tied for most defenders beaten (41) and clean breaks (16). Eight offloads proved she could be selfless too.

Vaha'akolo identified English wing Abby Dow (37 Tests, 36 wins, 29 tries) as her toughest opponent. Her brother Freedom Vaha'akolo played wing for Otago and the Highlanders. 

Profile by Adam Julian. 

*The Black Ferns mental skills coach in 2023 was Iain Saunders. After a decade as a Police detective, Saunders became a senior psychologist and head of training school within the police.