6. JORJA AIONO
Daughter of former rugby player Nio Aiono
Jorja Aiono has emerged as one of the most exciting young forwards in Welsh women’s rugby. The 19-year-old lock made her Wales debut during the 2026 Women’s Six Nations, producing an impressive performance against Scotland before starting against France and England.
Aiono comes from a strong rugby family. Her father, Nio, played professional and club rugby in Wales and New Zealand, while her uncle Afa Aiono captained Samoa Sevens. Her brother has also represented New Zealand at Under-20 level.
Aiono has previously spoken about the influence of her father, describing herself as a player who shares his powerful carrying style. Her rapid emergence with Wales means she is already moving beyond being known simply as the daughter of a rugby player.
DID YOU KNOW? Jorja Aiono began her rugby career with Gowerton RFC and is also a talented field hockey player.
5. SOPHIE DE GOEDE
Daughter of former Canada captains Hans and Stephanie de Goede
Sophie de Goede has arguably done more than anyone on this list to step out of her family’s long-casting shadow. The Canadian No.8 is the daughter of both former Canada captains Hans and Stephanie de Goede. Her parents both represented Canada internationally and captained their respective national teams.
Rather than simply following their path, however, Sophie has established herself as one of the world’s leading players. She captained Canada all the way to the 2025 Rugby World Cup Final and was named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year for 2025, adding to the World Rugby Dream Team selection she received in 2022.
Her club career has been equally impressive. After returning to Saracens, she helped the club win the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby title. With two international captains as parents, the expectations were always going to be enormous. De Goede has responded by becoming a world-class player in her own right and looks to leave a legacy as the greatest of all time.
DID YOU KNOW? Sophie de Goede brings a unique skill-set to the Canadian national team, as the versatile forward is the designated place kicker for the Maple Leaves.
4. MAIA JOSEPH
Daughter of former All Black and Japan head coach Jamie Joseph
Maia Joseph inherited one of the more recognisable rugby surnames in New Zealand. Her father Jamie Joseph won 20 caps for the All Blacks before embarking on an impressive coaching career that included guiding Japan to the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals and later working with the Highlanders and New Zealand.
Maia, meanwhile, has forged her own career as a scrum-half, progressing through the New Zealand pathway and into international rugby. She made her Black Ferns debut against the USA in 2024 and has since established herself as an important member of the New Zealand squad. She was also named 2022 Farah Palmer Cup’s Player of the Year, after a stellar campaign with Otago Spirit.
Her position makes the comparison with her father particularly interesting. Rather than following him into the back row, Joseph has developed as a dynamic half-back capable of controlling the tempo and providing the link between forwards and backs. She represents another generation of New Zealand rugby talent and is already creating a legacy that belongs entirely to her.
DID YOU KNOW? Joseph is a current medical student. This month, she started her first surgery placement at Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand whilst balancing her Black Ferns and Super Rugby commitments.
3. MADDIE FLUTEY
Daughter of former England international Riki Flutey
Maddie Flutey has already experienced quite the rugby education despite being only 19. The fly-half is the daughter of former England international Riki Flutey, who won 14 caps for his country and also played for the British & Irish Lions.
Born in London while her father was playing for Wasps, Maddie grew up in Dunedin and developed through the New Zealand pathway. She captained the New Zealand Under-18 North Island team and collected several individual awards at school and age-grade level. Her development has also crossed multiple versions of the sport, with Flutey playing touch, sevens and XVs rugby.
She joined Exeter Chiefs on a short-term deal in 2025 after playing for Otago Spirit in the Farah Palmer Cup, before returning to New Zealand later that year to continue her studies and rugby development. With her father’s international experience and her own leadership credentials, Flutey is one to watch.
DID YOU KNOW? At U16s level, Flutey was New Zealand Girls touch captain and was named as the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
2. MADDIE FEAUNATI
Daughter of former Samoa international Isaac Feaunati
Maddie Feaunati has an iconic family story on this list. Her father Isaac Feaunati represented Samoa at the 1999 Rugby World Cup and enjoyed a lengthy professional career in England, including spells with Bath and Leeds. He also became famous to a much wider audience after portraying legendary All Black Jonah Lomu in the film Invictus.
Maddie was born in Leeds while her father was playing in England and spent part of her childhood around Bath Rugby’s Recreation Ground before moving to New Zealand at the age of nine. She eventually returned to England, joining Exeter Chiefs in 2023, and made her Red Roses debut during the 2024 Six Nations.
The back-rower then became a Rugby World Cup winner with England in 2025, featuring as a replacement in the final against Canada. Her father’s rugby legacy is substantial, yet Maddie’s is rapidly becoming even bigger.
DID YOU KNOW? Feaunati competed for New Zealand Touch Blacks Mixed U18s (touch rugby). She also has a degree in digital marketing.
1. HONEY KERSLAKE
Daughter of former All Black Jerry Collins
Honey Kerslake is perhaps the most poignant example of a rugby daughter beginning to establish her own legacy. Her father, Jerry Collins, was one of the most recognisable forwards of his generation, winning 48 caps for New Zealand and appearing at two Rugby World Cups. His life was tragically cut short in 2015 when he was killed in a car crash.
More than a decade later, his daughter is following in his footsteps, and the rugby world could not be prouder. Kerslake has progressed rapidly through the England pathway. She was England Under-18 co-captain and, unusually for her age, also played for the England Under-21s in 2026. She subsequently signed her first senior contract with Exeter Chiefs for the 2026/27 season.
The Exeter back-rower is now taking her first steps into senior professional rugby, having already made a significant impression in the age-grade game. Without using the Collins surname for personal reasons, Kerslake is beginning to establish a reputation of her own, yet of her father, she said; “His inspiration has been one of my biggest driving factors to play rugby.”
That makes her journey particularly special — and there will be plenty more chapters still to come.
DID YOU KNOW? Kerslake was part of the Exeter College team that won the ACE Girls League championship at Twickenham in the 2024/25 season.
