Netball champion turned rugby star Paris Lokotui ‘ready to hit some people’ in Super Rugby Aupiki final

Saturday, 25 July 2026

Paris Lokotui on the charge for the Matatū against Chiefs Manawa in her first season since a switch from elite netball.

What: Super Rugby Aupiki grand final, Matatū v Blues. When: 4.20pm Saturday. Where: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, Sky Sport 1.

Matatū forward Paris Lokotui says her experience of winning the ANZ netball championship final last year will help her as she caps a sensational sporting switch to the Super Rugby Aupiki final.

The 23-year-old will be “ready to hit and be hit” when she comes off the bench for the Matatū against the Blues in Saturday’s title decider at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium.

Almost exactly a year ago she was wearing the wing defence bib when the Mainland Tactix won a first-ever ANZ Championship netball title in Auckland.

Now she sees her future firmly in rugby union despite coming to the code with “zero knowledge’’ beyond three sevens tournaments and nuggets gleaned from dad Lua Lokotui, a Tonga lock at two Rugby World Cup tournaments.

Matatū coach Blair Baxter is adamant Lokotui “will be a Black Fern” such is her promise.

The quick-learning convert admits the black jersey is a longterm goal, but “isn’t at the front of my mind” with her focus firmly on Matatū.

Few New Zealand wāhine have made such a seamless sporting transition at elite level, but Lokotui said while she’s playing a different code, “in terms of my processes nothing’s changed’’.

“I want to do the best I can and perform for my team and honestly just represent my family and friends. But, I guess looking at it from a different perspective, heading into a netball final is very different to heading into rugby final is very different to heading into a rugby final.

Paris Lokotui looks to pass in the Tactix’s win over the Northern Mystics in the 2025 ANZ Championship netball grand final - her last game before switching to rugby.

“I’m just making sure that my mentality’s there, that I’m ready to hit some people and honestly get hit as well.”

Lokotui said she was “quite a physical person” in netball, but had needed to learn ”how to dip in tackles, how to protect my body when I go to ground“.

“Little things like getting off the ground after getting tackled or putting in a tackle was something I had to work on and condition myself.

She enjoys how in rugby “everyone has to tackle, everyone has to clean a ruck, everyone has to carry. I love that everyone becomes united in that space”.

Baxter said is “an elite athlete, super professional, she looks after her body. She’s super-vigilant in understanding her role. She’s good at contact, she goes hard every week to be better’’.

He had noted her physicality on the netball court and quipped “now she can use her shoulders legally”.

Lokotui admits that having a grand final win in netball under her belt “definitely” helps her mindset as she approaches the Aupiki final, but “the team here at Matatū won a final [in 2023] so they have experience at winning finals and being in finals scenarios.”

Grace Brooker on her way to leading the Matatū to the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki final.

After her taste at the Tactix, Lokotui knows how much winning sporting titles means to the Canterbury region, which “has been through a tremendous amount over the last 10 years”.

While she will still support from afar her netball friends in the Silver Ferns at the Commonwealth Games, Lokotui has no regrets after being embraced by the Matatū whānau.

“Matatū represents care, they love you so deeply, they want to see you be a better person first, athlete second, and that’s something that resonates with me and my family… They’ve taken me under their wing and taught me from zero knowledge of rugby to all the way where I am now. I can’t thank them enough, and honestly I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than here.

“I love this space and I love this team too much. If I had regrets, I would’t be in the position I am now. I can’t see myself going anywhere else.”

Part of the record 11,793 crowd for the Matatū’s Super Rugby Aupiki opening round win over Chiefs Manawa in June.

Matatū are excited at the chance to play a final at Te Kaha where they drew 11,793 to the season opener against Chiefs Manawa in June.

That record could be exceeded with over 7000 tickets sold by Thursday and a big walk-up crowd expected.

The Blues, chockful of Black Ferns stars, are bidding for a third consecutive title, but the two teams split their round-robin encounters, with Matatū winning 27-21 in round one and the Blues rebounding 38-29 last weekend.

Teams

Matatū

Maia Davis, Winnie Palamo, Amy du Plessis, Grace Brooker (c), Alena Saili, Charntay Poko, Maia Joseph, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Elinor Plum-King, Sarah Jones, Emma Dermody, Laura Bayfield, Santo Taumata, Nat Delamere, Marcelle Parkes. Reserves: Georgia Ponsonby, Maddi Robinson, Pip Love, Paris Lokotui, Lucy Jenkins, Holly Greenway, Kelsyn McCook, Binky Muamua.

Blues

Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Mererangi Paul, Sylvia Brunt, Hollyrae Mete-Renata, Jaymie Kolose, Ruahei Demant, Tara Turner, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Danny-Elle Fesolai, Amarante Sititi, Maama Vaipulu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos (c), Aldora Itunu, Atlanta Lolohea, Chryss Viliko. Reserves: Grace Gago, Nijiho Nagata, Harono Te Iringa, Eloise Blackwell, Taufa Bason, Tafito Lafaele, Hazel Tubic, Katelyn Vahaakolo.