Haineala Lutui made her debut for the England rugby team at the Women's Six Nations, playing in front of a record crowd of 77,120. Her mother, Di Lutui, expressed immense pride in her daughter's achievement.
Haineala Lutui, the daughter of Di Lutui and Tongan international Alexi Lutui, has been playing rugby since childhood [Getty Images]
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.
Haineala Lutui celebrated her first England cap with family and friends at the stadium [Getty]
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.
Haineala Lutui (centre) achieved a "long-term dream" by playing for England on Saturday, her mother said [Getty Images]
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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Haineala Lutui's debut was significant as it marked her first cap for the England rugby team in front of a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120.
Haineala Lutui is the daughter of Di Lutui and Tongan international rugby player Alexi Lutui.
Di Lutui described watching her daughter make her debut as an 'incredibly proud' moment, highlighting the hard work and sacrifices made along the way.
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