Women’s rugby back on field

Two Mahurangi players joined a Harbour Hibiscus Farah Palmer Cup training run at the Silverdale United Rugby Club on July 9.

They were Abbie Lethbridge and Alice Cleland. The training was followed by a fun activities session with about 30 young female players, which included kicking, passing and an introduction to tackling.

Also present on the day was former Mahurangi College student Tenaija Fletcher, who is a Blues Aupiki rugby rep and the captain of the Harbour FPC team.

Silverdale plans to enter a women’s team next season, after a gap of four years. 

Named after global women’s rugby icon Dr Farah Palmer, the Cup is the sole women’s provincial rugby competition in NZ.

Meanwhile, community rugby clubs across Aotearoa have the chance to apply for a Bunnings Rugby Assist grant to support women’s rugby.

Ten clubs will be selected to receive $30,000 worth of Bunnings products and materials to improve their clubrooms to be more inclusive for female rugby players.

Between 2015 and 2020, the number of girls and women playing rugby increased from 17,825 to 31,035.

However, community clubs are struggling to provide adequate sporting facilities to meet the needs of female players.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of community rugby, Steve Lancaster said that at a local level, the women’s game had real momentum and was growing in popularity.

“It is great to have Bunnings Warehouse on board as a partner, helping bring our club facilities up to standard, so they are meeting the needs of female participants.”

Applications close on July 29. Info: www.provincial.rugby/bunnings-rugby-assist