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Daughter's England rugby debut 'pretty special'

Tammy Gooding,BBC Hereford and Worcesterand
Clare Lissaman,West Midlands
News imageGetty Images Haineala Lutui after the match. She is smiling and looking towards the camera and has a garland around her neck. Getty Images
Haineala Lutui, the daughter of Di Lutui and Tongan international Alexi Lutui, has been playing rugby since childhood

The mother of Haineala Lutui has said watching the 19-year-old make her debut for the Red Roses was an "incredibly proud" moment for the family.

Lutui, from Worcester, earned her first England rugby cap in front of a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

"We have seen all the hard work behind the scenes and the sacrifices, the ups and downs along the way," said mum Di Lutui. "So for it for to all come together at that moment was pretty special."

Her daughter was brought off the bench after Morwenna Talling sustained a leg injury. England beat Ireland 33-12 in their first match since becoming world champions.

Di Lutui said her daughter "has always been very driven, very determined and has always had that passion from day one".

Haineala's dad, Alexi Lutui, the former Tonga and Worcester Warriors player, had been a positive influence by making rugby and daily training "so much fun", she added.

Their daughter began playing rugby aged 13 with Worcester RFC, staying with the club until she was 18 before rising quickly through the England pathway.

She made her U20 debut during the 2025 Six Nations Summer Series, later breaking into Premiership Women's Rugby with Loughborough Lightning.

News imageGetty Haineala Lutui with family and friends. She is wearing the England kit and a woman at the front has a flag. The group are smiling towards the camera. Getty
Haineala Lutui celebrated her first England cap with family and friends at the stadium

Di said they had watched England play in the world cup and it was her daughter's "long-term dream" to play for the national team.

"We were just there as spectators admiring the Red Roses, so to be there six months later as parents and watching her run onto the field, it is absolutely a huge achievement for her, so we are very, very proud."

Lutui said it was good to see such support for the players at Twickenham on Saturday and the "atmosphere was just amazing".

"We are just so incredibly proud. A very proud moment for us as parents, and as a family," she said.

News imageGetty Images Haineala Lutui at the start of the match during the national anthems with team mates. Getty Images
Haineala Lutui (centre) achieved a "long-term dream" by playing for England on Saturday, her mother said

On the Six Nations and the future, she said her daughter was "taking it a step at a time".

"It's a bit overwhelming, very exciting so for us as parents - we have sort of said to her 'keep your feet on the ground, stay focused and just enjoy the experience'."

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