I have been waiting for this tournament for the last two years. Ever since I returned to Aotearoa in 2019, I have blocked this out in my calendar. The last two jobs I took, I flagged to my employer not to expect me to be about during that 6 weeks. So needless to say, I’m more than a little excited.
It was of course, delayed a whole year which is why we have the slightly clunky, ‘Rugby World Cup 2021 played in 2022’ moniker. While I was gutted at the time, the Northern Tour showed us just how much this last 12 months were needed for Black Ferns World Cup defence. In the weird ol’ way that life works, the tournaments delay has also provided me an opportunity to do more than just cheer in the stands.
I’ve been approved for media accreditation and so you will likely see me in Newsroom, the Herald on Sunday and making content a couple of different social media accounts during the tournament - I don’t mean to be vague on this point, I’m just not entirely sure what I’m allowed to say at the moment so would rather not get in trouble!
My super slick portable studio is all set and ready to go!
I’m also going to be taking part in a few different events:
I’ll be MCing this one for NZTE on 7 October
Taking on the World: Ambitious Leaders Making their Mark
This is going to be choice because it features the rugby wāhine you don’t hear from enough but who helped to shape the world we now live in. So grateful that Geri Paul (Black Fern #41), Vicky Dombroski (Former Black Fern Coach), Delyth Morgan-Coghlan (RWC2021 Team Services Manager, former Welsh International and Chair of the Welsh Women’s Rugby Union) and Paula George (former England Captain) all said yes to taking part.
I am also personally really looking forward to connecting with Amanda Lowry. I’m embarrassingly under informed on women’s wheelchair rugby, so keen to learn more and stoked that proceeds of the event will go to them.I’ll be acting as a quiz master for an event that’s being organised by the one and only, Fiona Stockley aka Stockers. This will be taking place tentatively on 4 November at the Ponsonby Rugby Club. As soon as it’s locked in for sure, I’ll share the details with ya!
Last but not least, I have my own baby on 7 November! When we hold our first Women in Rugby Aotearoa Summit.
This summit is going to be all about applying expert insights into our own areas of influence. So it will be a day full of workshops covering everything from supporting mum’s in rugby to sports activism to achieving cultural competency in rugby spaces.
I’m working with the team to put the final touches on this for launch to our members first and foremost before going wider with registrations. We will have a range of registration rates available as we don’t want $$ to keep our community from attending.
So yes, your girl is going to be a bit of a headless chook in October and November but what a privilege it’ll be to be getting to work on the thing I love the most.
I’m am conscious of keeping you fine folk reliably informed during this tournament while trying to avoid completely burning myself out. So currently thinking about a weekly diary, where I capture some of the things I’ve seen and link all the bits and pieces of work I’ve got up to. What do you reckon?
Welcome your suggestions and hope to see you at some point over the tournament!
With you,
Alice