WAGS ready for lonely year without their men

Casey Greene girlfriend of All Black Ali Williams . Photo / Doug Sherring

One's a busy married mum, another's happy playing girlfriend, the third's a part-time plasterer - but all are rugby WAGs facing months without their men.

When Highlander Lima Sopoaga put boot to foot to start the Super Rugby season in Wellington last weekend, he was kicking off a 248-day season that won't end until the World Cup final on October 23.

The All Blacks are chasing as much match time as possible in Super Rugby before training with their teammates ahead of the Tri-Nations and World Cup.

And that leaves less time with their other halves than usual.

Amie Jane met 28-year-old husband Cory nine years ago and they married in 2007.

She misses him "terribly" when he's away but doesn't have time to get lonely.

The couple have two young sons, Tennyson and Cassius, who was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis and suffers epilepsy and ADHD.

Their third child, a daughter, is due on April 11. Until then she will continue to coach the Hurricanes' cheerleaders.

When Cory's away they keep in touch by phone or Skype but he finds it hard to cope with his eldest son's illnesses.

"Cory can only be at the end of the phone feeling like s*** because he can't really help," said Amie. "It escalates his stress levels. He offers as much support as he can while he is away but still doesn't feel great about not being here."

Even when he isn't playing Amie finds it tough to plan social events. "People ask if Cory is around in the weekends and I just don't make any promises because you can't."

It's a lifestyle Casey Greene is all-too familiar with. She's been with boyfriend Ali Williams for six years, and for much of that time the giant lock has been away with the Blues, Crusaders and All Blacks.

Serious injury has prevented him playing for much of the past two years, but their domestic bliss ended with his return to the Blues side that beat the Crusaders last weekend.

"I am quite used to being the girlfriend of an All Black and Ali being away on games," she said. "You just have to look at the positives. I definitely have my own life away from Ali and rugby, that's really important for me.

"I have great family and great friends and if I get lonely I go for a horse ride and take my dogs for a walk or work harder on my business."

Greene, who owns dancing studio Pole Fitness New Zealand, said she got lonely when Ali was away - but the positive was the "honeymoon period" when he returned.

She said the 29-year-olds would try for babies after the World Cup but were not engaged. "We are happy playing girlfriend and boyfriend."

Kimberley Te Haara is still adjusting to life with an All Black boyfriend. Rene Ranger is on tour with the Blues in South Africa after playing a starring role in their victory over the Crusaders.

The couple had only one night after that win before he flew out with his teammates.

The plasterer said she kept busy in her work while he's away.

"I get used to it. I think it's good that we don't have kids as well. We have only got dogs."

Te Haara said she got jealous of other women hitting on her boyfriend, but he was more likely to get hassled by men wanting to talk about rugby.

She thought Ranger would be selected for the World Cup "if he pushes enough" but she wasn't the kind of person to get worried about shoes and party frocks for WAG gatherings.

"I am pretty rugged, actually. I just wear jeans and Jandals to work."

Sexologist Dr Michelle Mars said relationships could be under pressure when one person was away for much of the time - especially with the "what goes on tour, stays on tour" mentality.

She said couples needed to discuss the potential beforehand than to "deal with it like a train crash afterwards".