New Zealand rugby sevens great Gayle Broughton switched codes in 2022 and earned a Kiwi Ferns call-up at the end of her third NRLW season.
Hāwera-born Broughton broke into the New Zealand rugby sevens team as an 18-year-old in 2014 and won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics two years later, despite suffering a ruptured ACL just six months earlier.
The playmaker subsequently won gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, as well as representing Taranaki in 15-a-side.
After scoring 315 points in 112 World Rugby Sevens series matches – including winning six titles – Broughton took up an offer with Parramatta Eels for their 2022 NRLW campaign. The 26-year-old starred at fullback for a side that ultimately went down to Newcastle in the grand final and removed herself from Kiwi Ferns World Cup contention as she felt she wasn’t ready.
Broughton joined Brisbane Broncos and became a permanent fixture at five-eighth – partnering Jillaroos stalwart Ali Brigginshaw in the halves – in 2023-24, with both campaigns ending in semi-final defeat.
Across 16 games for the Broncos, she has racked up six tries and six try assists to emerge as a halves contender for the Kiwi Ferns’ 2024 Pacific Championships foray. Broughton debuted against the Jillaroos in Christchurch and ultimately played all three matches in the No.6 jersey.
