Jerry Collins daughter to play in the Six Nations after signing first pro deal

From fathers and mothers passing on their knowledge in the back garden, in the hopes to see their children following them into the professional game, there is something uniquely compelling about seeing the next generation pick up where their parents left off.

But inheriting a famous surname does not always guarantee success. The players on this list are beginning to make names for themselves, whether that is on the international stage, in Premiership Women's Rugby, through age-grade rugby or by establishing themselves in some of the world's leading domestic competitions.

There are World Cup winners, international prospects and teenagers who could have very bright futures ahead of them. Whilst some have followed fathers who were household names in the men's game, others come from families with multiple Test caps.

From the daughter of All Blacks cult hero Jerry Collins to that of former England, Samoa, Ireland and Tonga internationals, these are 10 daughters of famous rugby players who are making waves in their own right.

Ella Buckley is following in the footsteps of her father Tony, the former Ireland and Munster prop, and has begun making her own impression in the Irish women's game. A product of the Irish age-grade pathway, Buckley has represented Ireland at Under-18 level and remains part of the country's development system.

In 2026, she was named in Ireland's Under-18 Women's Six Nations Festival squad, having already represented the side at the same level the previous year. Her father's career took him from Connacht and Munster to Saracens, while Ella is forging a very different path as the women's game continues to professionalise upon the Emerald Isle.

For a player carrying a rugby surname with considerable Irish pedigree, the challenge is to ensure that her performances ultimately do the talking. At this stage of her career, Buckley remains one to watch, but her progression through Ireland's development system makes her an intriguing name for the future.

DID YOU KNOW? Ella's rugby story can be traced back to Kanturk Rugby Club in County Cork which was founded in 1927.

Haineala Lutui has wasted little time establishing herself as one of the most exciting young forwards in Premiership Women's Rugby. The Loughborough Lightning No.8 enjoyed a remarkable first season, making such an impact that she was called into the Red Roses' first training camp of 2026. She subsequently made her senior England debut against Ireland in the opening round of the 2026 Women's Six Nations.

There is plenty of rugby pedigree behind her, too. Her father Aleki Lutui was a long-serving Tonga international and captain who enjoyed a lengthy professional career in England. Lutui captained Tonga during the 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign and had previously captained the side against Fiji in 2004.

Lutui has spoken about her father's influence on her rugby, with the former Tonga hooker providing guidance as she developed her own game. At just 19, she has already progressed from England age-grade rugby to the senior international stage.

DID YOU KNOW? Lutui was named Premiership Women's Rugby Breakthrough Player of the 2025/26 Season for her incredible form with Loughborough Lightning.

Keira Snyman has inherited an impressive rugby pedigree from her father, former Springbok centre André Snyman. The 18-year-old has grown up in Denver, Colorado, but made the decision to pursue her South African rugby heritage in 2026. She was selected for the Junior Springbok Women and featured on the wing against the USA Under-20 side in Stellenbosch in July.

Her father won 38 Tests for South Africa and scored 10 international tries, establishing himself as a respected centre during the 1990s. Keira's story is particularly interesting because she is now exploring a South African pathway despite being raised in the United States. She is still at the beginning of her journey, but the decision to follow in her father's footsteps has already taken her onto an international age-grade stage.

DID YOU KNOW? Kiera Snyman is a versatile back-line player. She is equally dependable at her father's former position in the centres, whilst also proving herself as a lethal winger.

Makarita Baleinadogo has another one of the more interesting rugby journeys on this list. Born in Fiji, she moved to France in 2010 and began playing rugby at AS Mâcon, where her father Daniele had played. She subsequently developed through CS Annonay and FC Grenoble before joining Stade Bordelais in 2024.

That progression has taken her all the way to the French national team. Baleinadogo was called into France's 2025 Rugby World Cup squad as a late replacement and made her Test debut in the 84-5 hammering against Brazil during the pool stage. She was also part of Stade Bordelais' championship-winning side in 2025.

Her story is a fascinating example of how rugby's increasingly global nature can shape sporting families. Her father's Fiji connection and her own development in France have combined to produce a player capable of representing one of Europe's leading women's rugby nations.

DID YOU KNOW? Makarita was first called up to the French squad to help in preparation the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where she was apart of the training group. She has since become the first Fijian-born French women's international.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.