MOMENTUM KEEPS ROLLING FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY

By Peter White

The launch of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki last year laid the foundations for an enhanced competition in 2023.

The women’s Rugby World Cup final last November not only gave the Black Ferns an unexpected victory over hot-favourites England but produced a nationwide surge of emotional support for the women’s game beyond anyone’s expectations. With that support for women’s rugby at unprecedented levels, the second instalment of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is primed to kick-off. Although Sarah Hirini (Hurricanes Poua), Stacey Fluhler and Portia Woodman (both Chiefs Manawa) and Theresa Fitzpatrick (Blues Women) will miss the competition, as it clashes with the Canada round of the women’s World Sevens Series in Vancouver, there are 26 Rugby World Cup Black Ferns named among the four squads and another 26 players who have previously worn the black jersey.

The inaugural Aupiki competition was held last March. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the competition was limited to just three rounds, with Chiefs Manawa crowned the winners after the roundrobin series.

This year, the Blues Women, Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatu - (representing the South Island) will play fixtures at home and away, plus the addition of play-offs. There are 10 matches to be played, with six regular-season games and four more in the play-offs. Semi-finals will take place on March 19, with the play-off for third and fourth and the grand final to be held on March 25. Undoubtedly, the groundbreaking 2022 competition helped close the gap in playing standards and professionalism between the domestic provincial Farah Palmer Cup and international rugby. Next steps needed are a longer playing window to help develop the players, a designated pre-season window and a wider competition with teams from Australia and Fiji involved.

New Zealand Rugby has contracted 105 players for the new campaign, with 28 rookies named for the first time. In a significant move for the future of women’s rugby, female head coaches were appointed for the first time with Victoria Grant to coach Hurricanes Poua and Crystal Kaua to lead defending champions Chiefs Manawa. Kaua takes over after assisting Allan Bunting, while Grant, who was also an assistant coach last year, replaces Wesley Clarke. Willie Walker retains his role as head coach of the Blues Women and Blair Baxter is back in charge of MatatuNew Zealand Rugby’s General Manager Professional Rugby and Performance, Chris Lendrum, is delighted with the appointments.

“We are committed to providing pathways for women coaches in our game. This is testament to the work achieved by these wahine and those who have assisted their development. It is an exciting time for them both and we are looking forward to seeing them continue their coaching journey.”

Lendrum says New Zealand fans can be excited to see more top-quality women’s rugby on our shores.

“It is great to see such an abundance of talent captured within the four squads and fans don’t have to wait long to see these players in action. Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is fast, open and sensational rugby.

“We are thrilled fans and players alike get to enjoy such a competitive and captivating competition so soon after such a compelling Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

“Rugby World Cup enhanced Aotearoa’s passion for women’s rugby and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is the chance for fans to continue that support, embrace the atmosphere at matches and back their favourite players and teams – like they did with the Black Ferns.”

Three sets of sisters are named in Aupiki squads –Ruahei Demant and Kiritapu Demant (Blues Women), Chelsea Bremner and Alana Bremner (Chiefs Manawa and Matatu - ) and Carla Hohepa and Chyna Hohepa (Chiefs Manawa).

All Super Rugby Aupiki matches will be broadcasted live and exclusive on Sky Sport New Zealand.

New Zealand Rugby’s Ma - ori Cultural Advisor Luke Crawford devised the name Aupiki, which translates to mean “the ascent to the upper most realm”.

The symbolism draws a line between striving to reach the highest accolades in the game with the ascent of mythical god Tane to the heavens to retrieve the three baskets of knowledge needed to climb to the supreme heights of achievement.