Women's Rugby

[Braveheart81]

Drua 15 got some wheels & moves on her.

And now she seals the game for them.

What a game!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Did I mention that Drua 15 got some wheels & some moves on her?

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Really enjoyed that.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Would be a sight.

Shame about the strand of barbed wire, kinda makes the fence unjumpable

 

[Derpus]

Hell of a crowd for this game.

Nice to see. RA failing to capitalize on the incredible growth of women's sport is pretty high up in the vast list of their failings.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Shame about the strand of barbed wire, kinda makes the fence unjumpable

That and it would likely delay the Drua/Canes game to follow.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Nice to see. RA failing to capitalize on the incredible growth of women's sport is pretty high up in the vast list of their failings.

Sadly it probably going to be down hill from here with the NRLW expanding to 12 teams from next year and with a shrinking talent player it's a solid bet that they'll look at Rugby to fill the gaps. Plenty of the women in the comp already have Rugby experience. If they were serious they'd at the very least go to a double round robin and get some kind of cross over with the NZ franchises.

 

[Derpus]

Sadly it probably going to be down hill from here with the NRLW expanding to 12 teams from next year and with a shrinking talent player it's a solid bet that they'll look at Rugby to fill the gaps. Plenty of the women in the comp already have Rugby experience. If they were serious they'd at the very least go to a double round robin and get some kind of cross over with the NZ franchises.

I guess you would know better than me but certainly seems like they've missed the boat (shock).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

That and it would likely delay the Drua/Canes game to follow.

Meh, wouldn't hurt for the guys to be kept waiting by the women for a short time...

Sadly it probably going to be down hill from here with the NRLW expanding to 12 teams from next year and with a shrinking talent player it's a solid bet that they'll look at Rugby to fill the gaps. Plenty of the women in the comp already have Rugby experience. If they were serious they'd at the very least go to a double round robin and get some kind of cross over with the NZ franchises.

Needed to happen this year, even if only with post-season crossovers. By the time the new NRLW teams (incl Warriors) have filled their rosters there's likely to be a shortage of players to build the squad depth required for a comp that can compete. NZR & RA both missed the bus IMO.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Meh, wouldn't hurt for the guys to be kept waiting by the women for a short time...



Needed to happen this year, even if only with post-season crossovers. By the time the new NRLW teams (incl Warriors) have filled their rosters there's likely to be a shortage of players to build the squad depth required for a comp that can compete. NZR & RA both missed the bus IMO.

Agreed. Still glad the got such a crowd. And it wasn't just the early arrivals for the men's game. The crowd was very good from the start.

As for a SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) Womens. I'd say they have to sort it now. I have a little inside knowledge of how things worked when the Tigers, Sharks and Canberra etc. started off and they will likely look to cannibalise the existing clubs first for more experienced players then target 7s players. After that 15s. And all that will actively start late August/early September. I know this as my friend had 5 offers before the season had officially ended in 2022. So they need to get together and figure out how to make it work, and get all the players on board before the circus kicks off. The sooner the better. If not, yeah. How'd you like to see Ruby Tui in a Warriors jersey.

 

[Crashy]

Lock in a wider paid 7s squad. Full time job paying around $100k is not to be sneezed at.
Lock in the wider Wallaroos squad now - again a full time job will keep them in.
Sponsorships / sponsorships/ sponsorship of each player. Connect them will quality employment opportunities. (which is what's happening with some of the NSW players now). We have the corporate connections in Womens rugby and its growing.
funding / funding / funding
Dont know how it would work but that merged comp with NZ has to happen. Costs and logistics the killer but there has to be a way.
Help them realise that mungo isnt this land of milk and honey with a game that everyone is climbing over each other to play. I'd argue, without the money, would many over 18s of either sex play?
Would there be a Subbies comp like we have in rugby with 5000 Seniors playing and no payment? ( well the comp is Amateur so who knows).
Finally we can't join an arms race with player salaries for mungo but we can be creative.
The Olympics this year for example is such a draw card for players.

 

[RugbyReg]

Pretty big announcement tomorrow morning for women’s rugby in Oz.

A new long term sponsor

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ international, domestic or both? Or would that be letting the cat out of the bag?

Whatever it is, well done RA.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Lock in a wider paid 7s squad. Full time job paying around $100k is not to be sneezed at.
Lock in the wider Wallaroos squad now - again a full time job will keep them in.
Sponsorships / sponsorships/ sponsorship of each player. Connect them will quality employment opportunities. (which is what's happening with some of the NSW players now). We have the corporate connections in Womens rugby and its growing.
funding / funding / funding
Dont know how it would work but that merged comp with NZ has to happen. Costs and logistics the killer but there has to be a way.
Help them realise that mungo isnt this land of milk and honey with a game that everyone is climbing over each other to play. I'd argue, without the money, would many over 18s of either sex play?
Would there be a Subbies comp like we have in rugby with 5000 Seniors playing and no payment? ( well the comp is Amateur so who knows).
Finally we can't join an arms race with player salaries for mungo but we can be creative.
The Olympics this year for example is such a draw card for players.

Well, hopefully the sponsorship Reg has alluded to will help. It's not the 7s or Wallaroos level players I think hold the most danger. It's the level below that. The recent funding announcement alongside as you suggest some kind of employment opportunities make us very competitive with the NRLW for talent. Many active NRLW players (the vast majority) still have to work full time jobs and most of the experienced veterans are still only earning <$40k a season. So with the Wallaroos being signed to a max of $52k plus payments for being in camp and Tests that's not the issue for now. It's the tier below them that's the big issue. The women making only $4k a season. The NRLW minimum is $30k. For them it wouldn't be a super hard choice. But if we can manage to find beneficial arrangements that could help negate that then great.

On the merged comp. Conferences. It's not a dirty word. Aus conference and a NZ conference. Home and away in conference plus crossover games. Or we run some kind of Post season Cup comp.

Are you asking if there's amateur womens RL? Because yes, there is. Though I'm not sure how extensive it runs.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

^ international, domestic or both? Or would that be letting the cat out of the bag?

Whatever it is, well done RA.

I don't really care on whether it's international or domestic. The key factor is what's it worth to the bottom line of the women's game in regards to talent development and retention. I know. It's not great to immediately go to the $ of it all but we kind of have to.

 

[Wilson]

As @RugbyReg hinted, Cadbury has extended their sponsorship of the Wallaroos through the 2029 world cup:

Cadbury boosts long-term commitment to the Wallaroos

www.rugby.com.au

 

[Crashy]

Any idea what its worth?

 

[RugbyReg]

Wallaroos squad has been named. Probably our strongest for some time - on the back of a dominant Waratahs season. Cohesion will be an asset.

Halse, Sauaso and Wood a few uncapped potential stars.

2024 WALLAROOS SQUAD - PACIFIC FOUR SERIES

Allana Sikimeti* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
Asoiva (Eva) Karpani (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs) – 3 caps
Bridie O'Gorman (NSW Waratahs) – 17 caps
Sally Fuesaina* (ACT Brumbies) - uncapped
Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke* (Western Force) – uncapped
Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies) – 10 caps
Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs) – 15 caps
Michaela Leonard (c) (Western Force) – 22 caps
Tiarah Minns* (Melbourne Rebels) – uncapped
Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels) – 26 caps
Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs) – 9 caps
Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs) – 2 caps
Lydia Kavoa* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies) – 6 caps
Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs) – 10 caps
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies) – 4 caps
Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs) – 19 caps
Samantha Wood* (Western Force) – uncapped
Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs) – 21 caps
Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies) – 6 caps
Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds) – 12 caps
Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs) – 19 caps
Shalom Sauaso* (Queensland Reds) – uncapped
Trilleen Pomare (Western Force) – 24 caps
Biola Dawa* (ACT Brumbies) – uncapped
Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs) – 2 caps
Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs) – 8 caps
Caitlyn Halse* (NSW Waratahs) – uncapped
Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds) – 19 caps

*denotes potential debutant

Capped players unavailable for selection due to injury

Emily Chancellor
Bree-Anna Cheatham
Jasmin Huriwai
Adiana Talakai

WALLAROOS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies)
Ashlea Bishop (ACT Brumbies)
Brittany Merlo (NSW Waratahs)
Janita Kareta (Queensland Reds)
Melanie Wilks (Queensland Reds)
Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds)
Skye Churchill (NSW Waratahs)
Tamika Jones (Western Force)
Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds)
Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs)

PACIFIC FOUR SERIES
Australia v Canada – Saturday May 11, Allianz Stadium, Sydney 4:55pm (AEST)
Australia v USA – Friday, May 17, AAMI Park, Melbourne 4:55pm (AEST)
Australia v New Zealand – Saturday, May 25, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 12:05pm (AEST)

 

[Braveheart81]

Interesting that Piper Duck is no longer captain after captaining zero test matches due to injury since being announced as captain last year.

 

[half]

Watch and be surprised.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1766058331121078430