Black Ferns Sae and Mikaele-Tu'u join Harlequins

Liana Mikaele-Tu'u won the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup with the Black Ferns and was part of the squad that finished third in this year's tournament

New Zealand internationals Layla Sae and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u have joined Harlequins as injury replacements until the end of March.

Both forwards were part of the Black Ferns squad that finished third at the Women's Rugby World Cup last month.

"Layla and Liana are two world class talents and we know that they will add a lot to our environment," Quins' head of women's rugby, Andy Rhys Jones, told the club's website.

"We're also confident that this collaboration will allow both players to thrive in a new environment too and that they will be able to continue to develop as players, as they experience rugby in the northern hemisphere for the first time."

Layla Sae will join up with Harlequins in November

Mikaele-Tu'u, 23, will join up with Rhys Jones' side on Monday, so is not available for Friday's Premiership Women's Rugby opener against Loughborough Lightning.

Sae, 25, is due to arrive at the club from Hurricanes Poua on 10 November, before Quins' visit to Exeter Chiefs.

Sae has 19 international caps while Mikaele-Tu'u has 35 and was part of the Black Ferns' World Cup-winning squad in 2021.