Anneka Stephens (born 4 September 1989) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL Women's Premiership. She has represented Cook Islands in rugby sevens.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Anneka Taia-Stephens[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 September 1989 Invercargill, Southland Region, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 3 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editStephens was born in Invercargill, where she played touch football and rugby union before moving to Perth, Western Australia.[2]
Playing career
editRugby league
editIn Perth, Stephens played rugby league for the Joondalup Giants in the women's NRLWA competition.[3]
In June 2018, Stephens represented the Combined Affiliated States at the Women's National Championships.[4] On 27 June 2018, she signed with the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL Women's Premiership.[5]
In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Dragons, starting at hooker in their 4–30 loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[6] She played all three games for the Dragons in 2018, starting all of them at hooker.
Rugby sevens
editIn 2016, she represented the Cook Islands at the 2016 Rugby World Women's Sevens Olympic Repechage Tournament in Dublin.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Q & A with Anneka Taia-Stephens". WA NRL. 14 May 2020.
- ^ "2003, 2004 & 2005 seasons". Sporty.
- ^ "Stephens thankful for NRL opportunity". NRL WA. 28 June 2018.
- ^ "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". NRL. 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Dragons sign two more for NRL Women's Premiership". St. George Illawarra Dragons. 27 June 2018.
- ^ "Late mail: Women's Premiership (Round 1)". St. George Illawarra. 9 September 2018.
- ^ "Tupuna makes the cut". Cook Islands Rugby. 7 June 2016.