Alice Soper: Women’s rugby hit by gender play gap

Ruby Tui strikes for the Chiefs Manawa against the Hurricanes Poua. Photo / Photosport

Opinion

Standing sideline at a Hurricanes Poua match earlier this season, I was asked a question which still has me thinking.

I had brought my younger brother along to his first Super Rugby Aupiki game. Thankfully, he well understood what it’s like to support a Wellington-based team so was primed for a disappointing result. He was not prepared for just how disappointing my answer would be though when, partway through the second half, he asked where do these players go after this?

The reality is that for most of these players, they step out of the top level of domestic rugby in this country and step straight back into their local clubrooms. Players from the Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua who had no shot at the Aupiki final this weekend may have already appeared back at club training. There was a time I romanticised this as part of the game, feeling it represented egalitarian ideals. I’ve come to understand, however, that there is nothing equal or fair about these part-time professionals now running out against players who may be picking up a ball for the first time.

The tangibility of our heroes meant more when it was bootstrapping that took them to the top. They were just like us, fitting footy around life, paying for their own gym memberships, chasing their version of excellence. But now a group of our best spend their pre-seasons professionally in Aupiki. Their return to club grade is dangerous for the amateurs they’ll play.

They land here though because there is nothing else for them. After April, there’s a long stretch until the Farah Palmer Cup resumes. Perhaps there will be a Black Ferns development game they’ll be invited to at the last minute. In the meantime, they must keep themselves ready in whatever way they can. So this ambition lines up alongside social players across our country.

The Black Ferns, meanwhile, have a World Cup to prepare for. You’d be forgiven if you hadn’t noticed cause it appears our scheduling team hasn’t either. Just four international matches have been confirmed ahead of the kickoff of the Rugby World Cup on August 23. All of these games are the annual appointments of our national team. Taking place as part of the Pacific Four Series and our Laurie O’Reilly Cup contest against Australia.

We will not get better by simply playing ourselves. We should have learnt this last cycle, after Covid-19 shut down internationals leading to the disastrous results on the infamous 2021 Northern Tour. We then promptly packed in six internationals into 2022 ahead of the World Cup. With kickoff earlier this year meaning time is rapidly running out to close this gender play gap. More worryingly still, so are our options for opposition.

The World Cup champions currently have no matches scheduled between July 12 and the start of their title defence. Our Pacific Four rivals have all managed to lock in at least one more test. In Aussies’ case, a full dance card of seven games ahead of the main event. We cannot blame a lack of resources as all of these teams would envy ours. USA Rugby filed for bankruptcy just five years ago and Canada are currently running a Givealittle-style campaign for their World Cup fund.

What is lacking as always is vision. One that both players and fans can see themselves in. One that builds talent and the audience to cheer them on. One that gives us something to plan for, to hope for. One that gives us a proper shot at winning this Rugby World Cup and developing the next wave of talent to defend it. One that fills the sidelines every step of the way to cheer them on.

Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.