Black Ferns breaking new ground in sport

Charmaine McMenamin (in black), and Renee Wickliffe, were at Gisborne’s Rugby Park on Thursday, coaching and passing on their knowledge to a group of girls from 13 to 18 years of age. The girls came from Gisborne, Wairoa and the East Coast. McMenamin and Wickliffe were members of the Black Ferns who won the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The women’s game is the fastest-growing area of rugby . . . female player numbers were up 11 percent last year and with Commonwealth Games gold for the Black Ferns sevens team, they are expected to continue growing. Pictures by Paul Rickard

From the age of 14 to 16, former Gisborne Girls’ High School student Charmaine McMenamin “just wanted to play rugby”.

“Then I watched the Black Ferns win the 2006 Womens’ Rugby World Cup on television and I knew then I wanted to play for the Black Ferns and win the world cup,” said the 27-year-old, who achieved her goal when New Zealand beat England 41-32 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, last year.

Broadcast on prime-time Saturday evening television in the UK, the concluding match at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium in Belfast attracted a peak audience of 2.65 million on ITV1 alone, with many more fans captivated elsewhere around the globe as the sides served up an 11-try classic.

More so than any other edition, Ireland 2017 captured the imagination beyond the sport’s traditional reach. Viewership and social engagement records were smashed, new stars were born and, yet again, the performance bar was raised by the world’s top players and teams.

“The whole experience was surreal, especially winning the final,” McMenamin said.

Coaching session in GisborneShe, Black Ferns teammate Renee Wickliffe and New Zealand Rugby women’s development officer Anna Darling were in Gisborne on Thursday conducting a coaching session for girls from 13 to 18 years of age. The girls were drawn from Gisborne, Wairoa and the East Coast.

McMenamin, daughter of Gisborne’s Bernard and Rochelle, said she loved everything about being in the Black Ferns.

The Ferns beat off the challenge of the All Blacks to win the New Zealand team-of-the-year award and now have 30 contracted players, including McMenamin and Wickliffe.

But both agreed that, while it was nice to get paid for doing something they loved, it was never about the money.

“There’s an awesome culture with the Black Ferns,” said McMenamin, who has made 14 appearances for the national team.

“We have a lot of fun when we get together. The guitars come out and there’s a lot of singing, songs to be learned . . . but when it comes game time, we know how to get serious. There’s a good balance between having fun, enjoying each other’s company and getting the job done.”

Thirty-cap Wickliffe, who played for Counties Manukau before moving to Mt Maunganui where she plays for Bay of Plenty, said they were paid “not a lot” but it was better than not being paid.

“It’s also exciting for these young girls, who have come along to be coached and learn a bit of what it takes to be a Black Fern . . . the culture of the team and the rewards, travel to countries around the world that they might never otherwise get to visit.

“Who knows, one day some of these girls, maybe my five-year-old daughter, could one day become a professional rugby player. I started playing when I was at Paeroa College playing for the first 15, the only girl in the boys’ team.

“I never dreamed of becoming a Black Fern. Women’s rugby wasn’t big back then.

“It’s important that the girls understand it really isn’t about the money. That’s a bonus, but it’s only 10 hours each week. It’s about the joy of wearing the Silver Fern, representing New Zealand, the legacy of the jersey . . . and, of course, winning. That always helps.”

Future Black FernsMcMenamin, a Kiwi Fern (women’s rugby league representative), who plays her rugby for Ponsonby and Auckland, said coming to Gisborne was great.

“But it’s not just about us; it’s about these young girls, helping them to aspire to become Black Ferns, showing them there is a pathway.”

McMenamin admitted she was “a litte bit envious of the girls coming through”.

“They have opportunities that weren’t around when I started playing. I wish I was starting all over again.

“Women’s rugby is growing. But I must say I’ve received total support from my family and my bosses at Hellers.

“Playing for the Black Ferns meant I had a lot of time off and they supported me financially, as well as by allowing me the time off.”

Manawatu Cyclones player Darling became a women’s rugby development manager in 2016 and supports the Hurricanes region in growing the women’s game.

Based in Wellington and formerly part of New Zealand Rugby’s “people and capability” team, Darling said the growth in women’s rugby had created numerous opportunites nationally with the 15s, sevens and age-group teams.

“The number of girls playing at secondary school level is encouraging,” she said.

“Now the focus is on under-13s.”

Darling also has a leadership role in New Zealand Rugby’s team for the development of women’s rugby, as well as responsibility for capability development on a national level.