King Country Rugby can now look for a women’s coach.
The union has granted King Country Rugby Football Union (KCRFU) $20,000 for a professional women’s coaching salary, thanks to the New Zealand Community Trust.
Following an incredibly successful Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year, which was won by our very own Black Ferns, women’s rugby has seen a spike in interest.
King Country Rugby Union administrator Sofia Wood said women’s rugby was becoming a stronger part of King Country Rugby.
“The women and girls part of KCRFU has grown exponentially over the last couple of years, starting with initiatives in the secondary schools that have expanded into women’s senior club teams, and the first 2022 King Country Rugby senior women’s representative team.
“A paid role to oversee all the women’s programmes and development has become a necessity within the organisation, in a post Covid climate volunteers have become a dwindling resource.”
Wood said it’s fantastic seeing a whole new group of people giving the sport a crack.
“With women now an increasing percentage of the overall players, it is imperative that there is a role within the union that focuses on the optimum delivery of the unique women’s program. We want to explore ways in which the game will evolve in the future for this target group. They are not necessarily the same pathways as the men’s game.”
King Country Rugby Union general manager Kurt McQuilkin said women’s rugby has made big strides in the region in a short space of time.
“The women and girls rugby program is the fastest growth area in KCRFU. This grant from NZCT has enabled us to employ a Rugby Development Officer with the specific task of attracting, retaining, and developing our wahine. The growth for these girls and women when they step out of their comfort zone is invaluable.”
“The wahine RDO will not only focus on our girls and women’s rugby program, she will also be in the primary schools in the KC area delivering rugby tasters – in the form of rippa rugby. With a large area of the King Country being low decile and with 55% Māori demographic playing rugby in the primary schools they appreciate the free activations.
Our clubs and secondary schools will benefit from our wahine RDO being present in the school and club game which will not only strengthen the club/school link but create a much-needed pathway for players to seamlessly transition from the school game into the club game.”
KCRFU Wahine Rugby Development Officer Abby Keech, who started in the role midway through last year said its exciting times for the union and women’s rugby.
“In the past months, activations in schools have been in the secondary school girls’ space and primary school space with tasters of rippa rugby. The feedback from girls wanting to give it a go and the natural transition with ball skills and agility from these sessions has been amazing. It made planning for this year a breeze, with even more schools wanting to give these girls the opportunity to play.”
KCRFU is a New Zealand Rugby Heartland provincial union, and celebrated its centennial year in 2022.
KCRFU delivers grassroots rugby to a large geographical area from Ōtorohanga/Te Kūiti in the north to Taupō/Turangi in the south and as far west as Taumarunui.
The King Country Rams play in the Heartland Competition and for the first time in 2022 KCRFU were able to field a womens senior representative side named the Trailblazers.
Both teams had successful seasons with the Rams reaching the Meads Cup semi-finals, while the Trailblazers dropped just one match.
