Taylor Kingi is realistic about her chances of game time in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup.

At 17, the Te Puke High School student is one of the youngest members of the Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad announced last week.

She said her main goal for the season was to learn.

The first five-eighth said her running game still needs developing.

“That’s probably going to be one of my focuses, being in the Volcanix squad, playing what’s in front of me, looking up, seeing,” she said.

A young start

Kingi was “8 or 9” when she started playing at the Eastern Districts club in Paengaroa.

“All my mates when I was younger were playing. I was playing netball at the time and I wanted to try something new, so I started playing for ED.”

Up to under-13 level, she was playing in mixed teams.

“But for quite a few years I was the only girl on the team and I didn’t like that too much.”

She was unfortunate in missing out on the AIMS Games as both years she was eligible, the games were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Her first “proper girls’ team” was when she was a Year 8 student at Te Puke Intermediate School and she was part of the Te Puke team that played in the first girls’ Tai Mitchell tournament in 2021, which was held in Te Puke.

“It was cool to be part of that.”

From there she went on to play high school rugby for Te Puke in Years 9 and 10.

Preferred position

Kingi began playing on the wing but moved to half back before settling into the first five-eighth position.

“I was mainly put there because of my pass – then I started developing in one position and it became my preferred position.

“I played under-16 for Bay [of Plenty] then last year under-18s for Bay – it was my first year of doing that and then this year I started playing for Rangataua and everything just picked up from there.”

Her first open-age games were for the reformed Te Puke Sports women’s team last season, when she said she was nervous but not intimidated by playing against older women.

Game development

The move to Rangataua was recommended by her under-18 coach as a way to step up a level – and it worked, with the club winning this season’s Baywide Women’s title.

She said playing with the experienced Rangataua team members has helped her develop her game.

“There’s lots of experience in the backs and I went there to learn from them and grow my game, and I think they’ve helped me a lot.”

Fullback Sapphire Tapsell has been particularly inspiring, as has coach Kiki Tahere and Bay of Plenty Rugby board chairman Scott Kahle (father of Volcanix player Grace Kahle).

“[Kiki] has kept pushing me to get out of my comfort zone and start trying things.”

When she started playing, Kingi said it was really “just for fun”.

“Then I started to get into Bay teams, under-16, under-18, and there were pathways that I started to see open up.”

Now she wants to make it as far as she can in rugby.

Taylor Kingi in action for Baywide premiers Rangataua. Photo / Supplied

“My goals are to learn off more experienced players and grow my game … and I think with the players in the team, that will definitely help progress there.”

Squad selection

Kingi was in class when coach Ryan Setefano called to let her know she was in the squad but called him back as soon as she could.

She had attended wider squad trainings earlier in the year but says it was still a shock to be named.

“I was very excited, but I was also nervous because I’ve not really been part of that environment before.”

She’s realistic about her chances of playing and thinks if she gets any opportunities, they are likely to be off the bench.

“I’m only just starting – I don’t know how much game time I’ll get but I’m just excited to learn from the players around – that will be cool this year.”

Te Puke’s Santo Taumata and Georgia Broughton are also in the 2025 Volcanix squad.