Luka Connor

BIOGRAPHY

LUKA CONNOR is one of several players seeking to establish themselves in the top echelon of hookers in the nation following the 2018 retirement of the legendary Fiao’o Faamasuili.

Connor, a former Opotiki College student, has done the hard yards since first trialling for the Black Ferns back in 2015.

She started her career in the loose forwards, moving to prop and now finally into the hooking position. It follows that she is a strong scrummager and mauler.

Connor made her first-class debut in 2014 whilst still at school and has matured into a consistent footballer who carries well along with executing her core roles.

After suffering a serious knee injury at sevens training in 2017, Connor missed the entire 2018 provincial season. Now fully recovered, Connor can be considered an experienced first-class player, having racked up 37 Farah Palmer Cup games for Bay of Plenty, scoring 15 tries, including two in 2020. Few have played more or dotted done more for the Volcanix than Connor.

Consistent performances for Bay of Plenty saw her selected as one of 29 players to be offered a Black Ferns contract in 2019. Later that year she won her international call-up, debuting for the Black Ferns off the bench against Canada in San Diego. She made three further appearances off the pine in 2019, before two tries in three games for the New Zealand Development XV in Fiji.

Connor plays her club rugby for Rangataua. She was a member of the Black Ferns victorious Rugby World Cup 2021 squad.

Iwi: Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui