A weekend of DMs
I was on a course so didn't get to watch much except the messages coming in
This past weekend, I took part in the Ako Wāhine programme. Ako Wāhine is a New Zealand Rugby course which is focuses on empowering women in the game and if you pass, you end up receiving a World Rugby Educator certificate which means you can lead learning programmes and assess others as they develop in the game. This course is the brainchild of Vania Wolfgramm and in my opinion, is one of the best initiatives New Zealand Rugby has instituted to support women and girls in the sport.
This was the first time this course has been held in my region. So I was lucky enough to join a crew of other women (and a couple of blokes helping out as facilitators!) as we embarked on a full on three days in Silverstream.
When I pulled up the driveway the first people I saw were Serena Curtis and Dawn Patelesio. It felt like a tohu (sign) because these are the same two women who were there at the very beginning of my rugby journey. Serena as my teammate at the Johnsonville Eagles and Dawn at Norths as a formidable opponent.
I used to be so scared of Dawn. She was one of the handful of players at the time who could truly kick territorially while the rest of us were stuck running out of trouble. Not unlike Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, who plays 10 but also can play number 8, Dawn was another player who brought a physicality to the first five position which meant you ran at her in the defensive line at your own peril.
So imagine my surprise to learn just how funny Dawn is and also how kind. She was the class clown of our course and the heart of our smaller breakout team. Watching the way she lifted everyone over the weekend, reminded me what sport is all about.
Meanwhile Serena Curtis was the first person in my life to teach me how to play sport. I was 11 years old at the time and up until that point, I had only played games. Serena’s brothers were in my softball team and one time, when our regular coach was away, she filled in. Serena was the one that explained to us that each time you step up to the plate, your goal doesn’t need to a home run, you just need to get to first base. This blew my tiny mind to learn that to get the big goal, you had to break it up into bitesize pieces.
Serena wasn’t in my breakout group over the weekend but hearing the way another old teammate of mine, Leah Uila, spoke about how she took her under her wing over the weekend, shows that nothing much has changed. She’s still supporting us all to grow.
Serena has been away from women’s rugby, coaching men now for the last 10 years. The fact that she has decided to come back to the women’s game is bloody exciting. She has such a mana about her, she’s unflappable and kind of terrifying in a “I just want you to be proud of me” kind of way. Should she decide to take it on fully, I think she could be one of the best coaches the women’s game has ever seen in Aotearoa.
Now then, because I was away and not starting any conversations this weekend, it was very interesting to see the ones that came to find me.
Over the three days I had:
Someone contact me to raise concerns about player welfare in a camp (upset about this, will need to follow up :( )
Someone contact me to raise the issue of us not having a TMO in FPC playoffs (some very harsh, game changing calls made like a try being disallowed! Not fair to the refs or players in this type of setting to leave them without all the tools!)
A voice note thanking me for helping them answer a question no one else knew on women’s sports at a quiz due to my content.
Questions on whether Wellington could still make FPC semis without winning.
Request for Monday Motivations to come back (I use to hype people up on a Monday during lockdowns and turns out people liked it).
Question re: use of the word “Ladies” in commentary (Personally it doesn’t irk me as much as “girls” but I appreciate the history attached so try to avoid it where possible!)
Reactions to the Black Ferns performance.
People happy about the Tokomanawa Queens win!
People unhappy with World Rugby using trans players images while enacting a ban on trans folk.
Feedback on my Herald column, Pasifika team yes but we also want a Black Ferns Māori team!
All this to say, I love my community, both online and off! They send me such interesting stuff which is keeping me up to date with all the goings on and let me know where help is needed.
To know that there are so many folk, so engaged with women’s sport that they will take three days to take that course with me or even just send something my way to have a think about. I reckon that’s all pretty damn cool.
With you,
Alice