Risaleaana Pouri-Lane has become a central figure in the Black Ferns Sevens programme through her leadership, composure and consistency on the world stage. In 2018 she was called into the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games and sat on the bench during the dramatic gold medal match. Months later she captained the New Zealand Youth Olympic team to a gold medal in Buenos Aires, making her the only New Zealander to have won a gold medal at both the Youth Olympics and the Olympics, with two further golds from Tokyo and Paris. Pouri-Lane was the Tasman Supreme Sportsperson of the Year in 2024. The youngest-ever full-time contracted Black Ferns Sevens player when signed at 17.

Pouri-Lane brings sharp distribution, tactical awareness and strong defensive instincts to the Black Ferns Sevens. Her ability to control tempo, create opportunities and perform under pressure has helped drive the team’s continued success on the SVNS circuit.