{{Short description|NZ international rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|22|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = 1.71m | weight = | position = Loose Forward | years1 = 2025– | clubs1 = Harlequins | apps1 = | points1 = | provinceyears1 = 2019–2023 | province1 = Manawatu | provinceapps1 = 27 | provincepoints1 = 40 | superyears1 = 2022– | super1 = Hurricanes Poua | superapps1 = 19 | superpoints1 = 25 | repyears1 = 2023– | repteam1 = {{nwrut|New Zealand}} | repcaps1 = 19 | reppoints1 = 10 | medals = {{MedalSport|Women's rugby union}} {{MedalCountry|{{NZ}}}} {{MedalCompetition|World Cup }} {{MedalBronze|2025 England|Team competition}} }} '''Layla Sae''' (born 22 October 2000) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and for Manawatu in the Farah Palmer Cup.
== Early career == Sae was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was four.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2023 |title=Diabetes New Zealand |url=https://www.diabetes.org.nz/your-stories/layla-sae-type-1-and-true-grit-teaser-for-mag |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=DIABETES NEW ZEALAND |language=en-NZ}}</ref> She attended St Peter's College, Palmerston North.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=23 September 2021 |title=Emerging elite athlete supported by Mana Pacific to develop ability to give back |url=https://www.manapacific.co.nz/stories/emerging-elite-athlete-supported-by-mana-pacific-to-develop-ability-to-give-back |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.manapacific.co.nz}}</ref> In 2018, she travelled to the Philippines to compete in the Rebisco volleyball competition with the U19 Z-Air Māori Volleyball team.<ref name=":0" />
== Rugby career ==
=== 2022 === Sae was selected in Hurricanes Poua's inaugural squad for the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 November 2021 |title=Inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki squads announced |url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/inaugural-super-rugby-aupiki-squads-announced/ |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=superrugby.co.nz |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 November 2021 |title=Milestone for women's rugby with naming of Super Rugby Aupiki squads |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/454904/milestone-for-women-s-rugby-with-naming-of-super-rugby-aupiki-squads |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> After the Hurricanes missed the opening round due to COVID cases and isolation requirements, Sae made her Super Rugby debut on 15 March 2022 against Chiefs Manawa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 2023 |title=Hurricanes Poua Named to Face Waitomo Chiefs Manawa in Debut Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Match |url=http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-poua-named-to-face-waitomo-chiefs-manawa-in-debut-sky-super-rugby-aupiki-match |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.hurricanes.co.nz}}</ref>
In June 2022, she was part of the Black Ferns Pango sevens team that competed at the 2022 Oceania Women's Sevens Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2022 |title=Sevens stars set to shine over Matariki weekend |url=https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/2022/06/22/sevens-stars-set-to-shine-over-matariki-weekend/ |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=RUGBY HEARTLAND |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== 2023–25 === Sae returned for Hurricanes Poua's second season of Super Rugby Aupiki in 2023.<ref name="Hurricanes Poua squad named ahead of 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki">{{cite press release |url=https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-poua-squad-named-ahead-of-2023-sky-super-rugby-aupiki/ |title=Hurricanes Poua squad named ahead of 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki |work=Hurricanes |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref> She started in the Number 8 position in the opening game of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2023 |title=Hurricanes Poua team to face Chiefs Manawa in SKY Super Rugby Aupiki season opener |url=http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-poua-team-to-face-chiefs-manawa-in-sky-super-rugby-aupiki-season-opener |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.hurricanes.co.nz}}</ref> She then moved to the blindside in round two of the competition, they beat Matatū 25–24.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2023 |title=Hurricanes Poua named to take on Matatū in RD2 of SKY Super Rugby Aupiki |url=http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-poua-named-to-take-on-matatu-in-rd2-of-sky-super-rugby-aupiki |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.hurricanes.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnes |first=Campbell |date=4 March 2023 |title=Poua edge Matatū in dramatic end |url=https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/poua-edge-matatu-in-dramatic-end/ |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=superrugby.co.nz |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the semifinal match against Chiefs Manawa, Sae crossed the try line in the 55th minute for her first Super Rugby try, however, her side lost 21–43.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2023 |title=Hurricanes Poua Named for Chiefs Semi-Final Clash |url=http://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-poua-named-for-chiefs-semi-final-clash |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.hurricanes.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Voerman |first=Andrew |date=19 March 2023 |title=Chiefs Manawa to face Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki final after beating Hurricanes Poua |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/131540538/chiefs-manawa-to-face-matat-in-super-rugby-aupiki-final-after-beating-hurricanes-poua |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref>
On 17 April 2023, Sae was named as one of 34 players who were handed Black Ferns contracts in their build up ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2023 |title=Black Ferns contracts revealed |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/488110/black-ferns-contracts-revealed |access-date=13 May 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2023 |title=Black Ferns contracts announced for 2023 |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-contracts-announced-for-2023/ |access-date=13 May 2023 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref> She made her international debut on 30 September against the Wallaroos at Hamilton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knuckey |first=Brodyn |date=30 September 2023 |title=Black Ferns win big over Wallaroos despite stunted second half |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/30/black-ferns-win-big-over-wallaroos-despite-stunted-second-half/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2023 |title=PREVIEW: Black Ferns v Wallaroos (Hamilton) |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/preview-black-ferns-v-wallaroos-hamilton/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |website=allblacks.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
In July 2025, she was named in the Black Ferns side to the Women's Rugby World Cup in England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2025 |title=Black Ferns name 33-strong squad for Rugby World Cup in England |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-name-33-strong-squad-for-rugby-world-cup-in-england |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250725083850/https://www.allblacks.com/news/black-ferns-name-33-strong-squad-for-rugby-world-cup-in-england |archive-date=25 July 2025 |access-date=25 July 2025 |website=New Zealand Rugby}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Finn |date=25 July 2025 |title=Ruby Tui misses out as Black Ferns name squad for Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ruby-tui-misses-out-as-black-ferns-name-squad-for-rugby-world-cup/ |access-date=14 August 2025 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2025, she joined Premiership Women's Rugby team Harlequins as injury cover.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hemingway |first1=Rob |title=Black Ferns stars Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele Tu'u join Harlequins and set to feature in new Premiership Women's Rugby season |url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/rugby/pwr/2025-2026/layla-sae-liana-mikaele-tuu-harlequins-black-ferns-world-cup-new-signings_sto23234025/story.shtml |website=TNT Sports |date=23 October 2025 |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u join Harlequins Women |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/article/layla-sae-and-liana-mikaele-tuu-join-harlequins-women |website=Harlequins |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile_bf.asp?BFID=5258 Black Ferns Profile]
{{New Zealand 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup squad}} {{Hurricanes Poua squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sae, Layla}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand female rugby sevens players Category:New Zealand female rugby union players Category:New Zealand women's volleyball players Category:New Zealand women's international rugby union players Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Palmerston North Category:21st-century New Zealand sportswomen