\u201cI grew up on a farm, tackling sheep. They\u2019re harder to stop than humans because they\u2019re faster and don\u2019t have a target to aim at.\u201d <\/p>\n
Watherston has already played six SVNS tournaments, winning titles in Cape Town, Dubai, Singapore and Perth.<\/p>\n
Olive Watherston scores for Black Ferns at the Singapore Sevens. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
At the start of the month, in a sweltering Perth, the Black Ferns Sevens were too hot to handle on World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Jorja Miller\u2019s 22nd birthday. They won the Australian Sevens title for the fourth time \u2013 and for the first time since the event moved west in 2023. Hosts Australia were subdued 29-7 in the final, snapping a 10-game winning streak at HBF Park.<\/p>\n
A week earlier, the Black Ferns Sevens overpowered Australia 36-7 in the Singapore decider as they extended their record in the Lion City to 15-0.<\/p>\n
In the Singapore final, replacement Watherston grabbed a turnover that led directly to Katelyn Vaha\u2019akolo\u2019s last try. Earlier, she had scored her first try in black in a record 64-0 thrashing of Great Britain.<\/p>\n
France were stubborn opponents in the Perth semi-finals, leading twice. Substitute Watherston helped break their resistance with a textbook turnover that led to a try for the prolific Vaha\u2019akolo.<\/p>\n
Rugby runs in Watherston\u2019s blood. \u201cMy mum was a good rugby player. My oldest sister played for Melville in Hamilton. I guess you could say we love it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
While at Wakatipu High School, Watherston was lucky the rugby team had been revived after a hiatus. It was coached by former All Blacks Sevens representative Brad Fleming, originally from Tauranga.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were four teams, not a lot of games. Sometimes we only had 13 players. In my last year, we won. That was huge,\u201d Watherston reflected.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a while, I did equestrian; eventing, show jumping and hunting. I never got far. We couldn\u2019t afford good horses. We always got the young ones or the naughty ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
In December 2020, Watherston was selected for the Ignite Sevens in Mt Maunganui, playing alongside Olympic gold medallists Ruby Tui, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Michaela Brake. She was considered too young to stay at the team hotel and was instead billeted by Black Ferns Sevens coach Cory Sweeney.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the first time I saw Sarah Hirini<\/a> in person. I was a lot smaller then \u2013 I got bowled by Dhys Faleafaga. That was frightening,\u201d Watherston laughed.<\/p>\n In 2021, she played two games for the Otago Spirit in the Farah Palmer Cup: a 31-3 victory over Bay of Plenty and a 72-24 humbling at the hands of Canterbury during that team\u2019s 27-game winning streak.<\/p>\n Restless Watherston did enough in those games to catch the eye of James \u201cPorts\u201d Porter, the academy and development manager at Bay of Plenty Rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything you associate with Southern grit, that\u2019s Olive. Tough, practical, ambitious and unassuming,\u201d Porter says.<\/p>\n With the endorsement of Fleming and Sweeney, Watherson relocated from Arrowtown to Mt Maunganui, where the Black Ferns Sevens are based. She was only in Year 12 at college. <\/p>\n \u201cYou help out with the initial movement, temporary accommodation, school placement and a few contacts,\u201d explains Porter. \u201cOtherwise, the athletes and their families have to be ready to make the switch into a high-performance set-up and a new city.<\/p>\n \u201cOlive is very driven. She has trained the house down, found employment and a host family, which has to be an organic thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Watherston has worked in a sports shop, milked on dairy farms, and done whatever jobs she can to work in with her sport. She also studies sport and human performance part-time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very grateful to have Nicki and Doug as my host family. They both work in the medical field. Keenan is my \u2018brother\u2019 \u2013 he\u2019s 12. Sometimes I have to keep him in line,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\nFrom left: Jaymie Kolose, Maia Davis and Olive Watherston celebrate winning the Singapore Sevens. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n