15-Year-Old Annie Sloper Wins Under-16 Player of the Year

Annie Sloper has been named the Southland under-16 Girls Player of the Year for rugby union.

The 15-year-old received the EIS Trophy at the Rugby Southland Supporters Club community rugby awards held in Invercargill in early October.

Sloper, a Year 11 student at St Peter’s College in Knapdale, began playing rugby at age 5. She started with Rippa Rugby for Gore’s Pioneer Rugby Football Club before joining St Peter’s College four years ago. This is her first season playing for the Southland provincial team, where she has taken on the role of tighthead prop.

Her athletic record extends beyond the rugby pitch. Between January and March, she competed in the 2026 National Cross Country Series for motocross, an event hosted by Palmerston North and Nelson clubs. She finished in third place in the junior girls’ category. In early October, she also represented Southland in hockey at the National under-16 Girls’ Tournament in Christchurch.

Sloper attributes her success on the rugby field to the physical foundation built through her other sports. She stated that the fitness and resilience gained from hockey and motocross have directly benefited her rugby performance. When asked about her favorite sport, she noted that while it is hard to choose, she enjoys rugby the most. She said she focuses on what needs to be done and what she needs to improve, then keeps doing it.

Cedric Blair, the Southland under-16 girls forward coach, described Sloper as having raw talent. He said she was identified immediately when she joined the team this year. Blair noted that she picks up game plays very fast and possesses true grit. Sloper said she prioritizes her team over individual milestones. She does not want to let her teammates down and aims to stay committed to the sport to achieve something through continuous effort.

Sloper expressed gratitude to the people who have shaped her into a fit and fierce forward. Her dedication has made professional rugby a potential option for her future.