No slowing down: Newlywed Michaela Brake returns to Black Ferns Sevens fold in Perth

Michaela Brake is well aware of the irony of her new surname.

“The commentators get a maximum of two puns per tournament for the first couple of events and then that’s it,” laughed the Black Ferns Sevens flyer formerly known as Blyde.  

Brake, one of the fastest women in rugby, returns to the HSBC SVNS Series this weekend in Perth for the first time since the Paris Olympics – still breaking-in her new name after marrying fellow Olympic gold medalist, rower, Michael Brake, two weeks ago in what she describes as the most nerve-wracking but perfect day of her life. 

For a player that’s all action, doing everything at high velocity, Brake admitted she needed the time away more than she realised. 

“I was so exhausted,” she said. “I just wanted time away from rugby where I didn’t have to get to a certain period to then start training again, because for the last 10 years we’d have a six-week break after the season but by week three, we had to start training. 

“I needed that two months of just resting my mind and body.”

As well as planning the wedding, Brake was able to do some of the things she’s often had to turn down, taking on the media rounds, appearing on a sports quiz show and keeping connected with the game through some TV analysis as she starts to make plans beyond her playing days. 

It means she’s returning to the series refreshed and, perhaps scarily for opponents, content with life both personally and professionally.

“I just have this new sense of freedom going into this weekend where I’ve got no pressure on. I know exactly what I need to do, but I’ve also done everything that I’ve ever wanted to do in my whole career and more. 

“I don't have any feeling of ‘I have to do this, I have to do that’ I can just go and play and have fun.”

That’s not to say she doesn’t have goals. To that end there’s also something to clarify.  

Brake remains a sevens rugby player. Even though she has signed a deal with play with the Warriors in NRLW, she will continue with the Black Ferns Sevens until the end of the current HSBC SVNS season and plans to return to New Zealand Rugby in 2026 after her stint with the Warriors ends, facts that got a little lost in the hype when the announcement was made in Aotearoa.   

“I’ve still got some things that I want to tick off in my career. I stubbornly want to be ahead of Portia [Woodman-Wickliffe] for top try scorer and, because I can kick conversions now, maybe I’ll try to beat Tyla’s [King] points-scoring record and I definitely want to be among Gossy’s [Sarah Hirini] total caps appearance record for New Zealand,” she said. 

“I’m not too fussed about the other individual stuff, like season Dream Teams or World Player of the Year because I’ve done those, so it’s just about enjoying the game as much as I can, because I’m closer to retirement now even though I don’t know when that will be.”

The numbers racked up by her team-mates over their storied careers aren’t far away. Brake sits nine behind Woodman-Wickliffe’s 256 all-time tries, four world series events behind Hirini and 211 points behind King’s record of 1,448 points… and there’s the humorous caveat that, when she says she, ‘kicks conversions now’, she’s kicked one. 

While open to new challenges – as evidenced by her upcoming temporary code-switch – Brake was clear on what she didn’t want to do. She will not play in the Rugby World Cup in England later this year.

“Doing the TV work and seeing rugby in a different lens was really exciting for me, but I haven't played fifteens long enough to confidently go in that environment and be like, ‘yep, pick me’,” she said. 

“I also didn't want to sacrifice sevens, which has been part of my life for so long, so it was a matter of picking and choosing what I truly love doing, and sevens is my love.”

Brake insisted she didn’t have an ounce of FOMO watching the team play in the Dubai and Cape Town finals to start the 2025 season, but knew she was ready to compete when she rejoined the camp just before Christmas. 

“Seeing that growth in the newer girls really inspired me to want to come back and be better as well, and so to play alongside Kelsey Teneti and Dhys Faleafaga and then have my winger buddy Katelyn Vaha’akolo to interchange with is really exciting. Two international wingers in the same team, I think, is a massive advantage for us.”

As she enters a new phase of life on and off the field, there are two simple things that continue to drive her and keep the fire burning. 

“I love this game. I’m pumped to be back in the black jersey,” she said. 

Brake may be the new name – but there’s no slowing Michaela down.