Harlequins
Liana Mikaele-Tu'u embracing life at the pinnacle of women's rugby
From moving across the world to bidding for a spot in the Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-finals, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u is embracing everything that comes with life at the pinnacle of domestic women’s rugby.
The 24-year-old Black Fern made the move from the nib Blues in Auckland to West London’s Harlequins as injury cover in late October and has helped the Quarters sit fourth after her 11 appearances.
But with an impending crunch clash against local rivals Trailfinders Women on Friday evening, that could prove pivotal on the hunt for the semi-finals, it will be back to process for Mikaele-Tu’u as the stakes rise even higher.
“It should be fuel to take this weekend as a World Cup final. The pressure has always been there, but we just need to embrace it,” said the 35-cap New Zealand international.
“The leaderboard shouldn’t influence our process. Every week we come in and everyone is really fired up to have a really good weekend.
“The vibes are high. It’s just frustrating that we can’t transfer that onto the field at this moment. I’m really hopeful that this Friday everything will click for us.”
Quins find themselves on a four-game winless run, after suffering a tough 43-33 loss on the road to Loughborough Lightning in round 14.
It puts them six points behind Exeter Chiefs who sit third and just three ahead of upcoming opponents Trailfinders who boast a game in hand, while Sale Sharks sit in between in fifth and two points back.
“We just need to do the basics for longer and harder than every other player on that field,” diagnosed Mikaele-Tu’u.
“At times we get caught trying to do too much and then we go away from our gameplan. We’re a successful team when we can actually hold onto the ball.
“At the moment, we’re playing for two or three phases then losing the ball, which is quite frustrating. That’s been a really big focus – to nail those basics and do it for longer.”
And Quins are not short of talent to do that with. Just alongside Mikaele-Tu’u in the back row, they boast the likes of Ireland’s Aoife Wafer and captain Jade Konkel.
It has provided a fertile learning ground for the Kiwi, who has found unmatched competition throughout the league as well as on her own training ground.
“[The PWR] is definitely the pinnacle for domestic rugby. There’s no other competition where you’re playing with internationals from Wales, Scotland and New Zealand. Being in that competition is really good for my game,” said Mikaele-Tu’u.
“Being able to learn from those players has been really cool for me. The game play is very fast here which I’ve really enjoyed.
“They’re very drilled in their set piece here. I’ve been able to really be involved in lineouts for the first time. At home, I’m running off the lineout so being able to grow in that space has been really good for my game.
“Being able to train with [Konkel and Wafer] every week and see their attention to detail has been really cool. They are class loose forwards who just get the work done without the expectation of any praise.”
But playing style is not the only adjustment Mikaele-Tu’u has had to make since flying the 24 hours around the world to set up a new home.
She made the move alongside compatriot Layla Sae, but an anterior cruciate ligament brought an early end to the loose forward’s stint in England.
“It was really helpful to have a bit of home with me. It’s bloody hard to come 24 hours away so being able to experience new things together, debrief it together was really cool,” said Mikaele-Tu’u.
“When she left, I was gutted and also just for her because the situation was so unfortunate. We were both so excited to be here.
“But three months on, I’m grateful to the girls who have got around me and helped me fit in. The environment here is really awesome.
“It’s been hard because I’m 100% a homebody, I’m obviously an Islander myself. I’m Samoan and those are my people that I’m around most of the time.
“Being here and not seeing my people is difficult. There’s not many Islanders here, well living in Guildford anyway.
“And the weather, oh my gosh I was not expecting it. People warned me that the winter here goes crazy, but it was hard to adjust to, especially because we train as night.”
Mikaele-Tu’u has brought class of her own to the Quins set up, too, which will prove vital in the run in.
It is no coincidence that the 2021 World Cup winner has been a firm fixture in the Quins line-up since joining and brings abundant international experience, having lifted that home World Cup at just 19.
“Being a Black Fern changed my life. It opened my eyes to what is out there for myself as a Samoan girl coming from a small town and being able to experience things that were beyond what I could even imagine,” she said.
“In what world do you play a sport you love, get paid for it, do it with your friends and travel? It’s crazy.
“I’m aware that it’s not forever so I just want to take any opportunity and add what I can to the Black Fern’s jersey for every other kid that grew up like me.”
And at Quins, Mikaele-Tu’u is doing exactly that and she would encourage anyone else to make that 24-hour trip in either direction.
“A lot of the girls back home are extremely talented, but we just don’t have enough game time,” she added.
“It would 100% grow the competition here if we had more Kiwi girls and the flair they can bring. I just think of the impact Ruahei [Demant] has made at Bristol.
“I can only imagine how much growth this competition would have with more girls from the southern hemisphere.
“I love Super Rugby. I wish it could be exposed to the world, so people see how talented the girls are in New Zealand. When I talk to my teammates here, I tell them to come to New Zealand. We just want to grow women’s rugby.”
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