Leyah Gerrard proudly represented Wairoa and Aotearoa on the international stage as part of the U18 Recode team that travelled to Portugal for the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival.
Of Ngāti Pāhauwera and Ngāti Porou descent, Leyah currently attends Napier Girls’ High School where she plays First XV rugby and continues to pursue high-performance rugby pathways to further develop her skills and experience.
Playing in the demanding positions of prop and hooker, Leyah described rugby as something that has taught her discipline, teamwork, resilience, and the importance of never giving up. Throughout the tournament she competed against older and more experienced players on unfamiliar turf conditions, pushing herself outside her comfort zone and learning more about her own strength and capability.
Leading into the tournament, the team committed to an intense training schedule, including eight weeks of preparation before travelling to Portugal where they continued training twice daily ahead of competition.
All of the hard work paid off when the U18 Recode team were crowned champions after winning the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival Grand Final. Representing New Zealand and Wairoa on the international stage was an experience Leyah described as unforgettable and one she hopes is only the beginning of her future in rugby.
Beyond the results, the experience helped build confidence, resilience, and belief in what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Leyah hopes her journey inspires other rangatahi to back themselves and chase their goals no matter how big they may seem.
WYAT is proud to support rangatahi like Leyah who continue to represent Wairoa with pride while pursuing opportunities on the world stage.
