So the Aupiki squads still haven’t dropped and I’m sat here spinning my wheels ready to get excited. For now, it remains a game of guess who and so rather than bring you the breakdown I wanted to I’m going to give you a party mix of some of the best things I’ve seen in the last wee bit. Depending on how you want to feel, pick your poison from the following selection.
For Righteous Rage:
Amanda Blanc showed us all how to do the opposite of quiet quitting. Welsh Rugby, like virtually every other governing union at this point, has been going through a review. And spoiler alert, the patriarchy is real and everywhere.
It makes for grim reading but the fact that it is all stated so plainly and on the record is a gift. How many women have moved on from toxic workplaces over the years, going quietly into that good night? How things could have progressed if they didn’t?
I feel like this letter could have been written by a number of those that have worked in rugby. So if you’re wanting to go hit a PB at the gym, this will put a fire in ya belly.
Read Amanda’s exit letter and group email as she quit the Welsh Rugby Board. Sorry the formatting on this site is garbage but worth it to read her words in full.
For Warm Fuzzies:
This week, my friend’s Dani and Mel announced their entry into the women’s sports space. WOMENZSPORTS is following the example laid out by the likes of Just Women’s Sports. It’s all women’s sports, all the time and I am so here for it.
Data dropped just this week in the US that said the closing of the media gap for men’s and women’s sports is being driven by social media. Is that any wonder when the majority of our legacy media sports editors and reporters are all still men? The “No one cares” attitude to women in the game is a self fulfilling prophecy. It takes a break in the cycle to reset our expectations.
That’s what WOMENZSPORTS is set to do here in Aotearoa. And for my bit, I will be working with them. The podcast you’ve all been waiting for will drop in the new year and I’ll be profiling the range of epic wāhine that represent us in their chosen code on the world stage.
So give them a follow: Watch sports, change the game.
LET’S FUCKING GO!
For Pure Joy:
That’s how I would describe the PWR launch. England’s top domestic competition has gone ALL OUT ensuring they are setting the benchmark off the field too. I will be judging Aupiki against this vibe and I am expecting disappointment.
You can listen to me rant about their launch video here.
And you can actually watch the PWR matches here in New Zealand free on RugbyPass, how good!
For Backward Thinking:
You know how Aotearoa showed everyone this year that they really love women’s football? Drawing the biggest crowds for the sport ever, selling out Eden Park for the Football Ferns twice?
Someone who must have been napping through all of that (and potentially since 1996) is Bill Foley. Ignoring all the numbers, this old boy has decided to launch a men’s only football club in the Premier League. Maybe they’ll add a women’s team in 2025 but honestly, I thought we were passed this.
I don’t understand how any sports brand could look to establish themselves in 2023 and not have women on board from day dot. And the data in New Zealand would tell you that the more viable launch option would be women not men, if you were just picking one gender to start.
People will say all the things they always say in response to this:
“They need time to get it right”
“They will start and establish systems with men and then it’ll be humming to add women”
“There isn’t the depth of talent”
“Licensing options may have held things back”
To that I say, YAWN. If you’re starting something new, you set the agenda, you set your programme, you set your timelines. There’s no reason we have to accept half arse anymore.
Up the Nix!
A gift to me by the very talented and lovely Dean of Munk FC.
To ponder:
While I didn’t get the Aupiki squads, I did get more participation data from NZR. In my newsletter last week, I did some girl math and asked some questions. I’m now a little closer to answering them:
The 2022 number was confirmed as 24,447. So I wasn’t far off!
We are still 5% off where we were in 2019 in total participation numbers.
In the secondary school space we are 20% behind pre covid numbers.
Interestingly here too we are yo-yoing between growth and contraction over the last couple of seasons so clearly this needs to be the priority focus.
I went to a hui on Wednesday here in Wellington about just that and uggggh, I am tired of the same problem definition conversations. Time to just crack on and try different right??
In terms of geographic spread, this year nearly 1 in 8 of our players were registered in Auckland.
But tellingly, our Heartland provinces have been experiencing great growth over the last decade. King Country, over 770% in this period so you best believe I called up there team for a chat, will bring you that insight shortly!
Southland Rugby needs to be in the Farah Palmer Cup ASAP. I’ve heard from folks that have worked out of the province that this is a union attitude issue more than a talent one. So put the pressure on NZR!
Amy du Plessis, Amy rule and 7s’ Alena Saili are all pride of the South, think how many more are not getting a chance.
Okay, that’s enough to keep you ticking over until I can share Aupiki analysis with you! I also have another ‘In Her Words’ in the works for you. This one is so good I am likely to serve it up in two helpings!
With you,
Alice