Honey Hireme-Smiler: NZ Rugby League Captain and sporting legend

Honey Hireme-Smiler has had an incredible sporting career, representing New Zealand in Rugby League, Rugby Sevens and Rugby Union. She’s been an exceptional flag bearer for women’s rugby league. She has played with the Kiwi Ferns in 4 rugby league world cups, finishing the 2017 tournament as top try scorer and is current co-captain of the team alongside Laura Mariu. In 2020 she was appointed a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for her services. In Rugby, she was part of the Black Ferns team to play in the 2014 Rugby World Cup where she was named as part of the tournament ‘Dream team’. She has played in the NZ Rugby Sevens team in the 2013 world cup and in the IRB world series. In recent years, she’s moved behind the microphone, working as a sports commentator and presenter for Sky Sport. As a day job, she works as a Disability sport advisor for the Halberg foundation, helping young people with physical disabilities to get involved in sport. 

"Courage has been huge for me. I think I naturally always had it on the field. Make no mistake; I play a contact sport and I spent the first 10 years of my career from 5 through to 15 playing against boys, tackling boys. So that took a lot of courage obviously. But what I've found is that courage has now developed off the field and in my career. There's so many lessons in sport that can teach you in life as well."