You can look at this photo from Warwick Smith for Stuff and know everything I’m about to write.
One old boy speaks to a room full of old boys as they vote on who gets to wear the flashest blazer. Folks have described this decision as rugby’s civil war but it hasn’t inspired any fight in me.
That it was my home union, Wellington, so heavily involved in the preservation of the status quo does not surprise me. I am a product of that region’s rugby. I am the way I am because Wellington Rugby is the way they are. They are the push to my pull.
Whether it’s Pete from the provinces, David from Deloitte or heck, even Fiona from Fonterra, I do not feel my interests are being represented in New Zealand Rugby’s boardrooms. Not at this top table, not in my region and honestly, not even in the club committees. The stewardship of the game is still driven by a worldview that would throw folks like me overboard, first chance they get. Had the vote gone in favour of more Davids and Fionas the packaging might have gotten a bit slicker but the rot would have remained.
It’s a parochial patriarchy in action. Just as our game’s constitution intended.
This discussion is about 28 years too late to be any type of relevant. As soon as professional rugby began, the constitution of the amateur sport was no longer applicable to it’s governance. As soon as rugby began to be played by more than just straight, white, able-bodied, cis men, the boys in the blazers were already out of their depth. So too the panel of all white, predominately male members that they appointed to their executive.
These people look nothing like the teams I have played with and against. Most of these people wouldn’t have a clue on how to speak to them, let alone for them.
This has been the reality and with this vote it continues. I am not naïve enough to believe a vote any other way would have radically diverted this course. Asking a system to change itself is a waste of energy. Just reflect on the multiple restructures that have rolled through NZR headquarters in the last couple of years. Are we serving the game better now without a Women’s Rugby development team spread across the country? Are you really a Head of Women’s Rugby without a body to support?
No, change never happens within. It’s without. Because without us, rugby is nothing.
I’m going to let the Petes, the Daves and the Fionas argue. Let them bloody each others noses and I’ll keep mine to the ground. Focusing my energy on the places I can influence. Which is why you only see me engage with this system as a coach. They have a box for that, an understanding of the value I bring. What more I have to give will go into building outside of the system. So when it inevitably crumbles, we are there, ready to play.
Samoa’s First Five, Cassie Siataga, looks at the referee with hands on hips and the Oceania Rugby game day doctor decides to walk right through her conversion kick.
It’s hard to care about this self inflicted crisis in New Zealand Rugby when I am watching all that is wrong with our game in real time in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship.
The quadrangle tournament between Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea has a World Cup qualification on offer for the winner. The runner-up will get a life line with their final shot at qualification in WXV3 at the end of this year.
This Championship is played over one week, with a rest period of just four days between matches. It’s one of the weird things in our sport that the more professional you become, the less likely you face these types of taxing turnarounds. And yet, the more professional, the better conditioned you are to handle them. It’s as if the more resources you put in, the more concerned you are about protecting the recipients of those resources. Grim.
Of the four sides competing in this tournament, the most well resourced is Fiji. It is important to note that this is just by comparison to the others and it is questionable whether those resources are getting to players. Fiji Rugby had to apologise just last month for example, for making their Fijiana Sevens team sleep on benches outside the airport on their way to a World Series tournament.
This mistreatment aside, Fiji do play a lot of rugby together. Primarily thanks to their inclusion in the Super W which they have made the finals for each year since arriving, winning twice. Because of this, they are the odds on favourite to win this Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship.
The only thing in their way is Samoa, who they play this Sunday at 6pm (you can watch here on Rugby Pass TV). Samoa upset them last year in a thriller, pushed into WXV2 by the boot of Cassie Siataga. They will not go down without a fight and will be hoping to make their return to the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2014. Their lead up to this match however, has been far from ideal.
Last Friday, Samoa was due to play Papua New Guinea in the opening round. Papua New Guinea were cutting things fine by apparently flying in on the same day. This was likely a cost saving measure to save on a nights accommodation and kai for the team. Whatever the reason for the schedule, they didn’t end up boarding the plane. I am told this is because 23 of their players had not had their visas approved.
In order to play in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, a member union needs to have a domestic women’s league. Perhaps this entry requirement needs review as the instability within Papua New Guinea impacting their ability to participate. I hate saying this as sport is so important to giving communities hope, particularly during hard times like this. But this isn’t a development tournament anymore. It’s a World Cup Qualifier and these events have impacted their opposition chances.
When these teams play so little, dropping even one test is huge. It was plain to see the progression from Tonga between round one and two. Unsurprising given they had only come together as team 4 days before their first test. I expect them to find another level in their final match of the tournament. The Samoan team also came together just before the competition kicked off, bringing in yet another wave of debutants. They will be relying on the side being quick learners as they to build into this final game.
I’ll say this again, this isn’t a development tournament anymore. So this also needs to be considered in the appointment of the referees too. Samoa’s captain, Sui Pauaraisa, was ruled out of this tournament after a receiving a red card for a high tackle on Wednesday. But honestly, this was just one instance amongst many that should have been penalised. The lack of consistency across the park was frustrating to watch, I can only imagine was it was to play under.
This is not a personal dig at the referee, I wish her nothing but the best in the development of her skills. But she shouldn’t be given big games like this to sharpen them. It’s not fair for anyone.
Gripes aside, the stage has been set for third consecutive showdown between Fiji and Samoa for the championship title. In 2022, one try scored at full time won it for Fiji. In 2023, one kick in overtime sealed it for Samoa. In 2024, one spot is on the line to represent Oceania at Rugby World Cup 2025. GAME ON!!!
This moment in the screenshot at the top of this section, is a perfect encapsulation of the all rugby I have seen this week.
An official, oblivious to the game they are there to support. The community roaring in frustration at their actions. And once again, despite everything, the play in the centre is utterly brilliant.
With you,
Alice