Every time Wikitoria Viljoen (nee Doyle) laces up her rugby boots, she takes part of dad with her.
The Manawatū Cyclones winger, who has scored 13 tries in 14 games in the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC), helped the Hurricanes Poua to their first Super Rugby Aupiki win in 840 days. They beat the Chiefs Manawa 34-29 at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe on June 27.
Then on Saturday, it got even better. For the first time, Poua won consecutive games with a record 45-30 upset of the Blues, who lost successive games for the first time since 2023.
The Poua set records for their biggest win, most points scored in a game, and most conversions and penalties.
Viljoen became the first Poua player to score a hat-trick. Previously, five other players had scored twice in a single game.
Wikitoria is the daughter of the late Sam Doyle.
Sam, a dashing Manawatū, Wellington, Horowhenua-Kāpiti and Māori All Blacks outside back, was an original Hurricanes player in the first year of Super Rugby in 1996.
He played 43 games for Manawatū between 1991 and 1993, 32 for Wellington from 1994 to 1997, and 19 for Horowhenua-Kāpiti in 1998 and 1999. In 1996, he replaced All Black Christian Cullen twice in the Hurricanes’ first season.
Most memorably, Sam scored a thrilling try for the Māori All Blacks in their heartbreaking 24-20 loss against the British and Irish Lions in 1993. A year later, he scored two tries for Wellington in their slender defeat against the touring Springboks.
For 25 years, Sam was a leader in education, focusing on Māori immersion. He was Principal of Te Kura o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, a Māori immersion kura in Ōtaki from 2014 to 2019. He also lectured at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Māori history, lore, mātauranga Māori, physical health education, and wellbeing.
Sam lost his courageous fight against leukaemia on October 1, 2022, aged 52.
“When I was little I didn’t care much about Dad’s rugby. I was into netball. Only when I started making some big rugby teams did I begin to appreciate Dad’s rugby more,” Viljoen said.
“In 2021, my mum (Tracey) forced me into rugby. It was my final year of high school. All my mates were playing, so she found a mouthguard and boots and told the local Rāhui coach, ‘Wiki’s coming’.
“The next day Dad took me to a field, taught me some tips, and from there it started to feel more natural.”
Rāhui have won the Horowhenua Kapiti senior women’s championship every year since 2022.
Doyle, a healthcare assistant, made even more progress after moving to Palmerston North. She plays for Old-Boys Marist, winners of the past two Manawatū senior championships.
Like Dad, an eye for the gap, speed, and fearlessness are hallmarks of Wikitoria’s game. In the 2024 FPC she scored six tries in seven games as Manawatū won the championship title undefeated. In 2025 she was even better with seven tries in seven matches in the tougher Premiership. She scored a try in a 22-21 win against Auckland, who Manawatū have only beaten twice since 1999, and scored against eventual finalists Canterbury in a brave 39-22 loss in Christchurch.
“Dad’s many challenges taught me to be grateful for everything. If you make a mistake or have a tough game, it’s nothing compared to what Dad faced. That makes overcoming difficulties and playing without fear easier,” Viljoen said.
“Just loving one another is my vibe.”
Raw ability matched with infectious positivity made Viljoen a natural fit for the rebuilding Hurricanes Poua in 2026. Head coach Hayden Triggs was the Cyclones assistant in the FPC last year and has seen Viljoen’s talent firsthand. A former Māori All Black himself, he has a clear vision of what he wants from his team.
“I watched a lot of FPC and accessed specific data, reviewing several players and positions,” Triggs said.
“Wikitoria has been exceptional for a couple of years. We want to shake things up. Aupiki has become predictable. I want players to take ownership in driving the culture and strategy.”
That mandate appears to be working just past the halfway mark for Aupiki. After a heavy loss to the Blues in the first round, where Viljoen debuted off the bench, the Poua rallied from 12-0 down to almost topple unbeaten leaders Matatū.
Then, at last, on Saturday week ago, after 12 games, three head coaches and 15 Black Ferns Test victories the Poua recorded their first win since March 9, 2024, upsetting Chiefs Manawa 34–29.
The Poua had lost all seven previous meetings against Manawa and trailed 14–3 before being reduced to 14 players in the 33rd minute when loosehead prop Ngano Tavake was sent off for a “croc roll.” The yellow card was upgraded to red on review.
Instead of imploding, the red card galvanised the Poua. Tries to centre Hinemaringi Scott and prop Angel Mulu saw them lead 17-14 at halftime.
In the 50th minute, Viljoen made a searing break to set up Otago hooker Tegan Willocks. When Black Fern Renee Holmes kicked a penalty in the 55th minute, the Poua had piled on 24 unanswered points in 21 minutes.
“When I made that break I had no thought at all. I could hear Tegan screaming at me and only saw she was clear when I was falling after offloading the ball,” Viljoen said.
“We had a solid week before the game. Our training was clearly focused on what we need to do, not on Chiefs Manawa.
“To be honest, there was never a feeling of doubt. I was really confident, even at peace, I guess.”
Where does that come from?
“We have a really good team culture off the field. Confidence comes from the leadership team on the field.
“Renee Holmes, Iritana Hohaia, Sam Taylor and Te Rauoriwa Gapper are our leadership group. They’re really supportive. Every mistake you make, they’re there to pick you up and give you confidence.”
Crucially, most of the Poua are living together at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS), which is a change from previous seasons.
Still, when Manawa rallied from 34-19 down to 34-29 with a minute remaining, there must have been some anxiety.
“That was quite stressful, to be honest. We trusted the systems and knew we had to work hard at folding around and not leaving the edges skinny.”
Remarkably, Poua was even better in their 45-30 win over the Blues at Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt on Saturday.
Viljoen set the tone early, fending off two Blues with a storming charge down the grandstand sideline. In the seventh minute, she then caught the Blues napping with a dummy and 25-metre dash up the middle of the ruck.
Eight minutes before halftime Viljoen scored another try, catching a 15m skip pass from Arene Landon-Lane. Her third try was the most decisive. It started a scoring spree of 22 unanswered points in 22 minutes. Blindside Anahera Hamahona was a powerhouse. The Rātana-born Whanganui loose forward won the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s title in Australia with the Waratahs. Black Fern Renee Holmes scored 20 points. She has kicked 14 goals from her last 15 attempts.
“The Blues love a quick ball; they play on top. They’ve got a few good players. We focused on nailing our rolls and carrying that winning buzz forward. I’m so happy we did that,” Viljoen said.
The Doyles: Kara, Kotuku, Raukawa and Wikitoria; are all fluent in Te Reo Māori, so what’s with the South African surname?
In December 2025, Wikitoria married Hurricanes male halfback and Super Rugby Pacific winner Jordi Viljoen. Jordi’s grandfather Joggie Viljoen was a Springbok. Joggie’s son Roelof, also a scrumhalf, shared his father’s nickname and the pair are one of only a handful of fathers and sons who both donned the green and gold, although Joggie junior never played in a Test for South Africa. Jordi’s younger brother Jamie Viljoen is with the Chiefs, having starred for the Palmerston North Boys’ High School First XV last year that won the prestigious Super 8 competition for the first time since 2005. The Doyles and Viljoens are a winning pair.
“We saw each other at the Manawatū gym. He was playing for the Turbos, I was playing for the Cyclones. I don’t know, it just happened,” Viljoen laughed. “Married at 22.”
Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei (Shoot for the stars and you might hit the moon).
- The Hurricanes Region/Academy Under-20 male Tri-series is now named The Sam Doyle Memorial Trophy.
