Sevens Sisters: How a People-First Culture Turned Silver Into Gold

by Rikki Swannell

When Tyla Nathan-Wong popped over the conversion in what was the final act of the Rio Olympic gold medal match, her distraught face said it all. It was a look that was mirrored across the faces of the entire New Zealand team, slumped around the ground at the Deodoro Stadium as Australia celebrated their history making Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Games. It's all well and good to have the best athletes, but if there was one thing everyone involved in the Black Ferns Rio Olympic campaign had learned it's that what happens off the field can make or break what happens on it. A reset was needed and "people first" would be at the heart of that change. Led by new coach Allan Bunting and a large, diverse leadership group, the Black Ferns Sevens set course on what would turn out to be a five-year path to not only win gold at the Tokyo Olympics and be world dominant but to enhance the mana of the jersey and inspire people. At times during that five-year period, they were an unstoppable force but it didn't always come so easily. Serious injury left the global face of women's rugby questioning her future in the game, their coach and captain endured personal turmoil and needed to step away, their methods were often questioned by the rugby hierarchy, and just when the biggest goal was on the horizon, covid stopped them in their tracks. However, as they faced curveball after curveball, the Black Ferns Sevens had one simple premise to keep coming back to - are you on the waka and will you leave mana in your wake?

Genres: Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful history and memoir over a time where the seven sisters went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. It’s a testament to their devotion to not only the game of rugby but to their team mates, and their hard work ethic that took them from silver in Rio to gold in Tokyo. This is a story about how important it is to never give up on your dreams even when you have setbacks or even when you lose it is all about getting back up and trying again

This book covers the unique style of coaching that is very indicative of a lot of sports team from NZ where it's the people first and the sport second and how that fosters a far more successful team than having you priorities the other way around. Seven sisters always put themselves first before rugby and because of that they have such a close bond that helps the game, and is why they are one of the most dominating female rugby teams in the world

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I am so incredibly biased towards this team and the the author that I really checked myself to not give an automatic five stars. Telling the story of a team and structure that focused on the people even more than the performances. Some great insight/access to players and management to really build the picture towards their golden moment.

[vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

cried a fair bit reading this. i <3 the black ferns & what they stand for

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading so soon after Ruby Tui's book, it was good to get another perspective on some of the same things.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

what’s a team all about - how it’s build, when culture and people mean everything.

just makes me wanna be part of them, love them so much 😭

[The Savage Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic insight into the sisterhood and culture behind this team and how furthering these facets of the team led to them turning their Rio silver into Tokyo gold