More than rugby: Santo Taumata’s Black Ferns return shaped by faith, leadership and tautua

One thousand four hundred and sixty-three days is a long time to wait for another chance to wear the Black jersey.

For Aumoegalogo Santo Taumata, those four years were about much more than getting back on the rugby field.

The Te Puke-raised Sāmoan forward endured a series of injuries after helping the Black Ferns win the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

This forced her to find purpose away from the game and rethink what rugby means in her life.

Now, after making her return from the bench against Black Ferns XV in Wellington last Friday, the 23-year-old is preparing for another chance against Australia in the Laurie O’Reilly Cup.

Her comeback is a story of faith, leadership and tautua (service), and the lesson she picked up while rugby was taken away from her.

Aumoegalogo Santo Taumata during the 2022 Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo/Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Finding purpose away from rugby

Taumata was just 19 when she played in the 2022 World Cup final, the youngest player on the field as the Black Ferns lifted the trophy.

But injury soon changed the course of her career. The time away from rugby gave her space to grow in other parts of her life, particularly her faith.

“Going through all that injury, and those tough times, really brought me back to God and my purpose.

“I found my life outside of rugby. Things that filled my cup and brought joy into my life, as well as just learning that rugby is only a small part of my life.”

Those experiences, she says, helped her become a better person and player.

Aumoegalogo Santo Taumata being bestowed her chiefly title in Sāmoa. Photo/Supplied

The power of good leadership

Taumata’s relationship with Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen has also played a part in her journey.

Hansen was an assistant coach when Taumata made her Black Ferns debut in South Australia in 2022.

“I remember when I debuted in Adelaide [2022], I was really, really nervous to get on the field, and I just started to get a bit shaky.

“Whit [Hansen] was on the side of the field, what she said to me before I got on the field was, just remember at the end of the day it is Rugby, so go out there and play rugby, and do the best you can, and that just made me feel free.”

Four years later, Hansen sees the same resilience in Taumata.

“I think what you saw out there was someone who has incredible resilience and incredible courage, not only to overcome an injury she has in the last couple of years,” Hansen told journalists.

Aumoegalogo Santo Taumata and Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen. Photo/Supplied

”But to move away from home, take a chance, and to give herself the opportunity to showcase what she can do.

“I think this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we’re going to see more and more of that, that gets us excited about Santo,” the coach said.

Taumata says Hansen “gives me a lot of confidence, and it also makes me feel free… and she has a lot of empathy, which I feed off of.”

A legacy built on tautua

For Taumata, representing the New Zealand national team is also about what she leaves behind.

A proud product of Upolu and Sava’ii, Taumata says she wants her legacy to stretch beyond what she does on the field.

“I want people to look at the jersey and reflect on what it’s like outside of rugby. The identities that come with it like humility, grace, and tautua.”

Listen to Aumoegalogo Santo Taumata's full interview below.

For Taumata, tautua is a reminder that wearing the Black jersey carries responsibilities beyond rugby.

After 1463 days away, she is back but she returns with a much clearer idea of what that jersey means to her.

She has been named on the bench for this Saturday’s match against the Australian Wallaroos for the Laurie O’Reilly Cup at Go Media Stadium. Kickoff is at 3.05pm NZT. For more information on the Black Ferns match click here.