Sevens success for Miller
Talented young rugby player Jorja Miller has longed to play for her country since taking up the sport as a 4-year-old growing up in Timaru – and now, at just 17, she has been named in national Sevens squad.
Miller ,who is in Mt Maunganui with the rest of the training squad, said she was shocked to learn she had made the 2022 Black Ferns Sevens squad late last year.
‘‘It didn’t feel real. I was shocked and just like ‘wow’ and I was pretty excited,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s really cool and exciting to be able to train with the girls every day.’’
Miller left Timaru Girls’ High School and moved to Christchurch Girls’ High in 2019, with the goal of making the Black Ferns Sevens team.
‘‘After watching the sevens on the world stage at the Olympics, I thought it was a cool thing to be a part of and started aiming my goals towards there.
‘‘At the moment I’m recovering from a knee surgery and I will just focus on getting my knee back right, and I’m going to take in the knowledge and experience from the older girls and then hopefully game time comes along with that.’’
Miller injured her knee last year, and said when she joined the Black Ferns environment they were ‘‘pretty keen’’ on getting it sorted which would be better for her long-term and meant she could recover in a good environment.
When she started playing rugby she didn’t know there was a Black Ferns team. ‘‘So, I always wanted to be an All Black, but then I found out there was a Black Ferns team, and I was pretty keen to make it into it.’’
She said the support from her family and parents along with her own hard work – and the skills she learned as a competitive Highland dancer – had all helped her get to where she is now.
Miller and fellow school-leaver Kelsey Teneti are the two new faces to join the 2022 squad, which will now work towards defending its Olympic title in 2023.
Black Ferns head coach Cory Sweeney had plenty of praise for the two teenagers joining the squad. ‘‘We had both players in for a few weeks before Christmas, just to see how they would fit in the environment, and they brought an unreal energy and eagerness to learn.
‘‘Its unbelievable that they have only just finished Year 13 at school, we saw in FPC (Farah Palmer Cup) that their potential is huge, so we are looking forward to seeing what impact they can have in the sevens space.’’
Timaru Harlequins Rugby and Football Club life member Gareth Burgess said the club was ‘‘very, very proud’’ of Miller. ‘‘She played with us right through to under 13,’’ Burgess said. ‘‘She’s been talented from a young age, and now she’s reaping the rewards for the hard work she’s put in. ’’
Jorja’s mother, Tracy Miller, said the family were pretty excited about the journey and added that it was Jorja’s hard work, fitness, training and the support of family and coaches that had made it possible.