The past 18 months have proved incredibly successful for the New Zealand Black Ferns women’s sevens.

It’s a team that features a number of New Zealand’s best female rugby players and included in that list are two from the Eastern Bay in speedster Mahina Paul and veteran Stacey Waaka.

Their success throughout 2025 and into 2026 was acknowledged on Monday evening as they were crowned team of the year at the 2026 Halberg Sports Awards.

They overcame the likes of men’s team pursuit cyclists Marshall Erwood, Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton and Keegan Hornblow, Auckland FC, the New Zealand Black Sox, New Zealand Kiwis and rowing pair Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch to take the honour.

Paul and Waaka have been instrumental in the team’s success over the past 18 months and have been exceptional role models for aspiring girls in the Eastern Bay.

Paul, one of the fittest members in the squad, has really come into her own, showing how much she has improved and become a vital cog in the starting seven.

Waaka continues to showcase her talents whenever she gets on the park and the “smiling assassin” still knows her way to the try line.

Last year, the Black Ferns were untouchable, winning the overall series with ease.

This season, which began in Dubai, has seen the Black Ferns surge out to an impressive lead in the Sevens World Series.

They were too good in Dubai, claiming the first tournament of the year, but Australia replied with a victory in South Africa a week later. However, Singapore and Perth saw two dominant performances from the Black Ferns with Paul really showing her class.

Next up is Vancouver, followed by New York, Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux to end the season.

Expect Paul and Waaka to be instrumental in those five tournaments and the Black Ferns to claim another Sevens World Series crown.