Feilding woman flying on cloud nine

Hayley Hutana says a childhood of kicking the rugby ball around the backyard propelled her to become a rugby star.

The 23-year-old grew up with two older brothers in Feilding and was last week named the New Zealand Defence Force sportsperson of the year.

Hutana plays sevens for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Defence Force and Manawatu¯ , which won this year’s national title, and played 15-a-side in the Farah Palmer Cup for the Tasman Makos.

It adds to her growing list of accolades, after also taking out Marlborough’s

women’s player of the year.

The former Feilding High School student joined the air force three years ago, where she became a leading aircraftman at Woodbourne.

Her talents aren’t confined to the oval ball. She dabbles in basketball, volleyball and athletics, and was a provincial representative in all three.

It meant a busy life for parents Sue and Stu, she said.

‘‘My parents were always on the sideline, and they still are when they are available to travel. Most places I go, they’ll be there to support.’’

Brothers Nathan and Frazer, who both

still live in Manawatu¯ , also played a big part in honing her rugby skills.

Hutana’s partner, Wairakau Greig, is a physical training instructor in the air force and plays sevens for the Cook Islands, and coached the Defence Force women’s team that won the Pacific Military Rugby Sevens tournament in Canberra in October.

The team beat the Australian Defence Force 14-12 in the final, with Hutana kicking the winning conversion.

She was honoured and humbled to be named the Defence Force sportsperson of the year, and nominated for the Defence Force person of the year.

‘‘I still really can’t believe it,’’ she said.