Her dad played here and her All Black brother was named after William Wallace, but Amarante Sititi has never been to Scotland before and she is excited to be in Edinburgh this week with the Black Ferns.
The 19-year-old second-row has been one of the breakthrough stars in women’s rugby so far in 2026 and has earned her first two caps for the world number two side in wins against Australia and South Africa.
Both games were special for different reasons, the first because she came off the bench for a debut and scored a try as the Black Ferns defeated the Wallaroos 66-19 in her home city of Auckland last month.
And the second because she again came off the bench to score a try in a 52-20 triumph in Johannesburg on the same day her brother Wallace was involved with the All Blacks versus the Springboks in the same stadium earlier this month.
It will now be special when she earns her third cap at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday versus Scotland off the bench in the WXV Global Series because her dad Semo, who earned over 50 caps for Samoa, played for the Border Reivers over here before Amarante was even born.
“This is my first time in Scotland and I am excited to be here,” Amarante said.
“I am too young to remember my dad playing here, but I know that my brother is named after a Scottish historical figure!
“I was born in Japan when my dad was playing over there and I was five when we moved to New Zealand.
“Rugby was always around the family and when I was around 11 I started to play.
“Dad never forced rugby on us, but he has always been a big support to myself and Wallace over the years as we have moved through the levels. Myself and Wallace also message each other and say good luck before matches and he is always helpful if I need tips, but mainly we just talk about usual sister and brother stuff!
“And although rugby is in the family, it was actually one of my teachers who first got me to play and I haven’t really looked back since, I have always really liked the physicality of the sport.”
Amarante came through the rugby ranks at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School and also excelled in other areas of school life there as she was head girl in her final year.
Since then, she has played senior rugby for Auckland Storm and the Blues and her progress has been swift.
As a result, Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen handed Amarante a first international call up in early August and she has been in and around the group since.
“Coming into senior rugby has been really fun,” Amarante, who is studying sport and human performance at Waikato University, stated.
“It’s been a big step from school rugby, but I think that’s just helped me grow as a person and as a rugby player.
“The senior game is definitely more physical, but also there is more structure to things and everyone has to play their role.
“I was not expecting to be in the Black Ferns this year, when the call up came it was so exciting.
“To then make my debut against Australia was really special, especially doing it at home in Auckland with my family in the crowd.
“I think that will be a moment I’ll remember during my whole rugby career and my whole life definitely.
“As I said, the step up to senior rugby was a big one and the Black Ferns is just another level and pressure on top of that, but people say pressure is a privilege and I am privileged to be on this journey with the Black Ferns.
“Bein in South Africa was really cool because me and my brother both represented New Zealand on the same day.
“And now being on the tour of Europe is really cool too and I am enjoying Edinburgh this week.”
The Black Ferns head into Saturday’s game off the back of an opening WXV win over France 28-14 in Lyon while, on the same weekend, Scotland lost 64-26 at home to Canada.
New Zealand have won all four previous clashes against Scotland at the 1998 Rugby World Cup, the 2005 Canada Cup, the 2006 Rugby World Cup and the 2021 Rugby World Cup held in 2022 and will be big favourites here, but it should be a great occasion as it is the first time they have played here.
“We’re focusing on our physicality this week in training and we know that Scotland has a strong set piece and maul, but we’re also physical in those areas we’re just working on that,” Amarante concluded.
“I am just loving being with the Black Ferns and taking it all in.
“Everyone has helped me a lot and taken me under their wing and that has really helped me to settle quickly and focus on my rugby.”
Amarante Sititi is pictured – thanks to the Black Ferns
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk