Girls tackle new rugby challenge

Women’s rugby is riding a wave of popularity, and the success of an initiative from a local trust shows that wave is one that could grow much bigger, as Judene Edgar finds out.

Women’s rugby is experiencing unprecedented growth. Globally, more than 2.7 million women and girls play rugby, representing over a quarter of the playing population. Celebrated for its fearless, fast and furious players, rugby was traditionally dominated by men. But women and girls are continuing to break barriers with every step they take onto the pitch to play the game they love.

Eighteen-year-old Neve Anglesey first started playing rugby when she was seven, one of only two girls on her Waimea Old Boys’ Rugby Club team. “My friend got me to play because she didn’t want to be the only girl playing; but when she stopped playing after a few years I was the only girl.” Neve also played in the Richmond Primary School rippa rugby team, and represented the Top of the South at the two-day ‘National Rippa World Cup’ competition in Wellington when she was 11, where they finished runner-up.

Despite trying basketball and cricket, Neve says that they were “just not the same” and didn’t have the physicality that she loves about rugby. Now in Year 13, Neve is in the Waimea College First XV girls rugby team and has been in the Tasman Mako women’s squad for the past two seasons.

Ania Morgan, 14, started playing rugby when she was five. She was going to rugby to watch her brother Rore play, so decided that instead of just standing on the sideline watching, that she may as well be playing. For her first three years she was the only girl in the team, but this eventually grew to three girls. Ania manages to juggle both rugby and basketball, and this year finished the season on a high with the Nayland/Stoke First XV girls rugby team winning the regional championship, and her Nayland College basketball team winning the Junior South Island Championship.

Along with teammates Lucy Mahuika and Sarah Jones, in 2020 Ania was selected to be a ball girl at the Black Ferns v NZ Barbarians game at Trafalgar Park. “I got to stand next to the Black Ferns while they sang the national anthem, which was cool.”

Lucy, 16, plays for the Nayland/Stoke First XV girls rugby team and started her rugby career with Nelson Rugby club at age four. Her older brother, sister and father all played rugby so “it’s in the genes” she says. “I love everything about it, to be honest; the physicality, the friendships, the skills.”

In 2018 Lucy made history as the first female to captain the Nelson Bays U48kg rugby team, leading the team at the South Island tournament. Then in 2019 she was awarded Nelson Club’s female player of the year. Her star continues to rise with Lucy being chosen to join the Tasman Mako U18 Women’s training squad as well as the New Zealand Māori U18 development squad this year and hopes to make the squad team next year. Ultimately, her sights are set on the Black Ferns or Black Fern 7s. “I’ve got so many wāhine toa to look up to, so it would be great to be a role model for young girls one day. But when I was younger, it was just me against the boys.”

Neve had a similar experience. “When I was younger, I was frequently the only girl at rugby camps. It’s so good to see a lot more girls across all ages playing these days.” Ania also experienced barriers to playing. Unlike boys’ rugby which is played on a Saturday, girls rugby is played on a Wednesday. For Ania this has meant a clash with basketball. “I would play rugby straight after school, and then quickly race to Saxton for basketball games, trying to clean-up in the car on the way.”

Helping girls like Ania, Neve and Lucy to break barriers is the Whakatū Girls Rugby Trust (WGRT) established in June this year by rugby mums Kelly Mahuika and Karen Jones, and former rugby player Rebecca Kersten.

Despite growing up in the United States and not being familiar with rugby, Kelly was introduced to the game by her rugby-playing kiwi husband Graham, and quickly became a fan. A keen sportsperson herself, she soon found that there was a lack of opportunities for girls in rugby, especially younger girls. “We were tired of waiting for someone to do something, so decided to start something ourselves. We’d like to take a holistic approach to the game, focussing on nutrition and goal-setting, body positivity and friendships, along with all aspects of the sport. The aim is to empower wāhine to reach their potential both on and off the rugby field.”

With the help of the Tasman Rugby Union, Stoke Rugby Football Club and NBS, they held their first two-day camp during the July school holidays. Despite being unsure if people would turn up, it sold out within two days. “It was exciting but a bit daunting,” Kelly says.

On the back of their initial success, they held a second camp in October with a Rugby World Cup theme. As well as drills, learning new skills or honing existing ones, for many girls it was the first time they’d had the opportunity to play in an all-female environment, as this generally isn’t available until high school. The girls are provided all meals (as their bodies need lots of healthy fuel), and scholarships were available for those who needed it. “We didn’t want cost to be a barrier to participation, so we offer scholarships for camp, boots, gear, whatever they need. Everyone deserves the opportunity.”

Eight-year-old Olive Halcrow attended Spring Camp and says that she loved it. “I was really excited to be able to go.” Olive started played rugby for Marist when she was five “because my older brothers played rugby and I really wanted to play too.” Olive particularly enjoys “tackling, scoring tries, and running it straight”. Her highest score was nine tries in one game. As well as the games and skills, she says she was excited to meet some of the Mako players who were their coaches.

“We want to grow the game for players, but we also want to create a space for new coaches,” says Kelly. Neve turned her hand to coaching at the Spring Rugby Camp, and really enjoyed it. “I got asked if I’d like to try and thought I’d take the opportunity to give it a go. It was cool to experience the other side and to gain an appreciation for coaching.”

Along with Lucy, she also got to experience what it was like to be a role model. “They had our posters there and the girls were lining up for our signatures. It was cool to have them want to know us and get involved. There was nothing like this when I was young. It’s so good to see a lot more girls across all ages playing.”

Despite aiming to start small and grow slowly, they’ve already had interest for camps in Blenheim and West Coast and want to start working with schools to offer introductory skills sessions.

“Rugby is a game for everyone,” says Kelly. “If she can see it, she can be it.”

But for now, Kelly and Lucy are off on a much-deserved break to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals and finals in the hope of cheering the Black Ferns on to victory.

To support WGRT or find out about how your girls can get involved, go to facebook.com/Whakatugirlsrugbytrust