After nearly two decades of rugby players dominating the Weet-Bix Stat Attack cards, some of New Zealand's biggest names from across the sporting world are getting their turn.
This year's collection of cards expanded beyond rugby for this first time, featuring 26 athletes from 15 different sports.
Shot putters Dame Valerie Adams and Tom Walsh, Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington, cricketer Kane Williamson, and netballer Grace Nweke were among those included.
Headlining this year's collection of cards, Dame Valerie said the change reflected New Zealand's growing reputation across a number of sports.
"I think the world is seeing New Zealand for more than just being a rugby nation," she told 1News.
"Something I've experienced overseas, being in a global sport of track and field, they see us more than just rugby, which is great."
The former shot-putter was also named this year's coveted gold card athlete, something she described as "pretty special".
"Never thought in a million years I thought I would probably be a sports card in a Weet-Bix box, because as you've mentioned, we are quite a rugby heavy nation."
Swimmer Erika Fairweather, who was also featured in the new collection, said she'd grown up collecting the rugby cards and was excited to be among the athletes included.
“Everyone’s competing and representing New Zealand at such a high level and doing so with great quality, so it’s cool that they’re kind of having the same opportunities now," Fairweather said.
The beloved cards historically featured only the All Blacks, before the Black Ferns were included in the tradition three years ago.
Sanitarium marketing manager Sumi King said the choice to expand this year's card collection came following a surge of interest across the country in other team sports.
"It's just broadening that reach of different players and athletes different sporting codes, just to appeal to a much broader group of Kiwi kids," King said.
The new collection launched today and would run for 12 weeks.
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