Women's Rugby

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ I can't really agree with that. The journos know they're not going to get Robinson to talk about Razor at the Aupiki launch, they know they're not going to get him to talk about Razor at the Black Ferns coach announcement so the only reason to still ask the question is so you can write a story in which Robinson refuses to talk about Razor.

 

[Wilson]

Yeah, it's poor form for the journos to be focusing on anything but Aupiki there, the razor stuff might be a big story but it's hardly so urgent to override everything else.

That said blind Freddy could see this would happen, the NZRU aren't helping themselves (or women's rugby) by letting it fester in the background.

 

[Adam84]

I don’t necessarily agree it’s poor form, any journalists would be slapped by their editor if they didn’t ask those questions given it’s one of the limited opportunities offered to ask them.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Yeah, it's poor form for the journos to be focusing on anything but Aupiki there, the razor stuff might be a big story but it's hardly so urgent to override everything else.

That said blind Freddy could see this would happen, the NZRU aren't helping themselves (or women's rugby) by letting it fester in the background.

I don’t necessarily agree it’s poor form, any journalists would be slapped by their editor if they didn’t ask those questions given it’s one of the limited opportunities offered to ask them.

For sure but Razor hasn't helped himself by (again) jumping the gun with that "announcement imminent" comment. To be fair to him I think it's been taken a little out of context but he still shouldn't have said it IMO. I just hope it doesn't result in him winding up coaching Fiji or Scotland, a fate that back in the not-too-distant past would've awaited any prospective AB coach who didn't mind their P's & Q's.

 

[Members Section]

For sure but Razor hasn't helped himself by (again) jumping the gun with that "announcement imminent" comment. To be fair to him I think it's been taken a little out of context but he still shouldn't have said it IMO. I just hope it doesn't result in him winding up coaching Fiji or Scotland, a fate that back in the not-too-distant past would've awaited any prospective AB coach who didn't mind their P's & Q's.

Didn't see the press conference so wont aimlessly throw in an uninformed moronic opinion on whether it was right or not, side note could razor actually be trying to force nzru hand here. I mean he walks into the Fiji job now if he wants it. RSA, France, Ireland & NZ all cant get through through to the semi's one if not 2 of them could all blow up internally which then he is the top candidate. He holds the chips & could easily bait nzru to go all in early.

ps congrats to Bunting but now we have Eddie overseeing our girls with Tregonning doing the day to day I dont see us ever loosing to nz ever again in the history of the planet

 

[Wilson]

Still a ways off a full-time professional program, but this is a big step forward for the Wallaroos:

Rugby Australia to contract Wallaroos for the first time in $2m funding boost

In an historic step to keep up with Test rivals - and fend off domestic competition - Australia’s top 15-a-side women’s players will be paid up to $55,000 in 2023.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Members Section]

Still a ways off a full-time professional program, but this is a big step forward for the Wallaroos:

Rugby Australia to contract Wallaroos for the first time in $2m funding boost

In an historic step to keep up with Test rivals - and fend off domestic competition - Australia’s top 15-a-side women’s players will be paid up to $55,000 in 2023.

www.smh.com.au

obvs rent around moore park wouldn't be cheap but you could def make $55k work to be a full time athlete. Its not ideal but a good 1st step

 

[Wilson]

obvs rent around moore park wouldn't be cheap but you could def make $55k work to be a full time athlete. Its not ideal but a good 1st step

It's not clear in the article, but my read was the $55k is maximum possible earnings, not contract rate. So it'd be made up of $4k for super rugby, a contract for some amount from RA and then match/camp payments for Wallaroos games, so it's not necessarily a guaranteed $55k you can plan your life around.

That's no knock against this move from RA, it's a huge step forward and a big investment in the Women's game. It's honestly much more than I was expecting from them this year, or at least this early in the year.

 

[Adam84]

Critically they talk of it including centrally contracted part-time contracts, i.e. a set number of hours a week over a set period, rather than their entire earnings coming purely from match/camp payments that were offered previously. Which is critical for women's players if you consider factors like maternity leave, leave accrual etc..

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Halberg Sports Awards were held last night & predictably the Olympic medal-winning snowboarders took out the male, female & overall titles. Black Ferns still did alright: Wayne Smith Coach of the Year, Sarah Hirini the Leadership award & Black Ferns Team of the Year. Their World Cup win was voted Sporting Moment of the Year with Ruby Tui's post-match sing-along also nominated.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Super Rugby Aupiki underway:

At Levin Domain, Levin: Chiefs Manawa 53 (Luka Connor 3, Tanya Kalounivale, Kennedy Simon, Chelsea Bremner, Georgia Daals, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Dhys Faleafaga tries; Tenika Willison 3, Hazel Tubic con) Hurricanes Poua 21 (Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Rhiarna Ferris tries; Carys Dallinger 3 con). HT: 22-21.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

obvs rent around moore park wouldn't be cheap but you could def make $55k work to be a full time athlete. Its not ideal but a good 1st step

It's more than most of the girls playing NRLW will be making for the next few seasons. But it will need to improve.

 

[Dan54]

I see some of the kiwi girls girls are coming over to play in Aus teams when Aupiki finishes, then they come back for Farah Palmer Cup.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ all going well they'll soon have a proper if limited trans-Tasman comp between Aupiki & Farah Palmer Cup with a full home & away T-T within five years, sooner if RA's & NZR's finances allow.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Matatū 33 (Kendra Reynolds 6 min, Alana Bremner 18 min, Martha Mataele 27 min, Di Hiini 32 min, Lucy Jenkins 44 min tries; Renee Holmes 4 con) Blues 31 (Grace Gago 31 min, Jaymie Kolose 39 min, 51 min, Kateylyn Vaha’akolo 64 min, Sophie Fisher 80 min tries; Ruahei Demant 3 con). HT: 26-14

Blues could've taken it to golden point but Demant missed the final conversion. Big comeback though as they were down by plenty at times.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Pac4 is back:

April 1: Canada v United States in Madrid, Spain

In Australia in June

Australia v Black Ferns (TBC)

In Canada in July

Canada v Black Ferns, United States v Australia (TBC)

Canada v Australia, United States v Black Ferns (TBC)

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

Top three qualify for Div 1 of the new W15 comp (other half being top three from W6N), last place goes into Div 2.

 

[Braveheart81]

Great to see!

 

[RugbyReg]

You'd have to think that 29 June test in "BRISBANE" will be targeted for the new Ballymore, which would be awesome.

 

[HJ Nelson]

Photos from the Women's Australian Rugby Championship yesterday

Australian Club Championship - Bond Uni V Gordon

Bond Uni Women's rugby team wrote themselves into the history books as the inaugural winners of the Women's Australian Club Championship.A hat-trick to winger Diane Waight sealed the 29 - 26 win over Sydney Premiers, the Gordon GazellesGalleryTeamsBond Uni1 - JAZ TOPIA2 - SHI REVELO3 - SHELLY...

www.tremainfocused.com

 

[RugbyReg]

Worth watching the highlights to this game. Gordon looked sharp and a very clever team, as you’d expect with Hewson and Reirdon in the inside backs.

But wow. Bond play an awesome style of rugby. Very free spirited. And they have some absolutely young stars. Two wingers stole the show.