World Firsts, World Competition and World Cups
Everything is happening all at once
So my friends bought a basketball team this week. A slightly ridiculous statement to make but it’s true. And because it’s women’s sports, they didn’t just buy a team they bought their place in history.
This ownership group is all too accustomed to that though. Paula ‘Georgie’ George, was the first black women to captain the England Red Roses. Her wife, Jo Caird, was the first official All Blacks Photographer. Jody Cameron, the first coach to win a championship with the team she now owns. This success after an already illustrious Tall Ferns career.
They are joined by Dani Marshall, who you will know for being one half of the formidable duo behind WOMENZSPORTS. And Rachel Howard, a former goalkeeper for the Football Ferns turned Adidas executive.
Despite all those credentials, eyebrows were still raised as to whether such a group was cut out to level up the Auckland franchise. Who this season are defending their Tauihi championship title in New Zealand premier women’s basketball league.
That’s because in 2024 it still seems to shock people to learn that women can own things. Not just things but sports things. Not just sports things but sports teams! By buying this team, they have become the first professional women’s team in the ENTIRE WORLD to be owned, managed and coached by women.
I saw a Tiktok recently that was telling us that we need to reframe these firsts. Rather than labelling them as progress of the historically ostracised, we should call it what it is. People, particularly those in power, finally getting over themselves.
So well done to men for not being sexist this week! Let’s celebrate by getting along to a game if you can. The Auckland Kāhu first game is on 6 October, get your tickets here.
World Cup 2025 tickets have launched!
That wasn’t the only history making news this week. Unless you checked your email after 9pm on Tuesday night here in Aotearoa, you would have missed the fact that the first tickets went on sale for the Rugby World Cup 2025. Only two matches were up for grabs, England’s opener and the final being held at Twickenham. With the rest to come once the schedule is finalised in late October.
Despite the lowest key launch possible, they pre sold 47,000 of the 82,000 seats to the final a whole year out. That’s 57% of seats already snapped up in just half a day. Alongside this, 8,000 were sold to the opening game.
Revenue is up alongside this demand. I spent $100NZD on my tournament pass to the last World Cup. This got me access to all matches including the final. On Tuesday, I spent roughly $140 for a ticket to just the final match. And that wasn’t even the best seats!
All of this seems that suggests that some tweaks may need to occur behind the scenes. Back in 2022, New Zealand Rugby had to sheepishly move their opening match from the 5000 seats of Waitakere Stadium to a packed Eden Park. Looking at the current stadium allocations for 2025, I would suggest the same might need to be done for the semi finals. Currently, these are to be hosted by Bristol at Ashton Gate. This stadium holds 26,000 and if early demand is anything to go by, this simply isn’t big enough.
Then there’s the question of country allocations. I had more than a few fellow New Zealanders, including a Black Fern mum, quite concerned to have missed out. The relative radio silence around ticket sales on the ground here is a worry and will need to be resolved ahead of the next release. The word is that packages are coming together for New Zealanders but people want to see that detail sooner rather than later. Seeing these big sales totals in the meantime is only adding to the fear of missing out.
We want the sell out to be a good news story but it won’t be if those looking to make the trip across the globe can’t get through the gate.
Season two of WXV kicks off
My favourite women’s rugby competition is back! The second iteration of the WXV is kicking off in the early hours of Saturday morning. Remember, there are six spots at next year’s Rugby World Cup up for grabs through this competition. So the pressure is truly on.
Well, kind of. For all the hype, the structure means that everyone in WXV2 has already qualified no matter where they finish. The real fight then is in WXV3, where five teams are competing for two spots. It’s five because although Fiji are in this division, they have already qualified by finishing first in their regional competition earlier this year. I have said in the above graphic that you can watch this on Rugbypass.tv and I hope that is the case as Sky aren’t broadcasting the 3rd division.
Semantics aside, this is a really juicy preview of how teams are tracking ahead of next year’s World Cup. The game of the round in WXV1 has to be Canada vs France. For all the attention the England New Zealand rivalry get, chapters could be written on France and Canada.
Canada knocked highly favoured France out of their home Olympic games earlier this year. Adding to their 15s win over the side at last year’s WXV. This was revenge from a ruthless 3rd place victory the French won over a war-weary Canada at the last World Cup. Of the 17 times they have played each other, France currently hold a narrow edge, 9 wins to 8. Canada seem to be in great form at the moment though so they should be up to level the score 8-8.
I am going to watch all of WXV2. Sky knows this and this year is broadcasting the second division, hooray! Each one of those matches has intrigue so sign me up. South Africa, have gone from ignoring to embracing women’s rugby at a dizzying pace. They are odds on to finish the next World Cup as the most improved side from the tournament before. This match against Japan will allow us to continue to grade their progress.
Wales won their first ever victory over Australia just 8 days ago, 31-24. They have since made all the wrong headlines with news that their star prop, Sisilia Tuipulotu, is missing the WXV2 opener due to visa processing issues.
The Aussies will be looking to take one back and pick up their second win this year after a rough start under new head coach, Jo Yapp. I for one, trust what Yapp is building but I’ve seen Australia Rugby punish people for less. Hope for the sake of rugby in the region, they can find their flow.
Italy and Scotland just ahh, how fun! Italy had been confidently getting the better of this contest for the last few years until something finally clicked in the Scottish side. Since 2023, they have taken the upper hand. Beating Italy in Edinburgh and then at home in Parma this Six Nations. It’s only a knife edge that separates them. Single digits between victory and defeat in the last two matches. So you know this game will be another cracker!
Just in case you wanted more rugby!
The Premiership semi finals are playing this weekend. On Saturday, Counties Manukau Heat host Canterbury at 12.05pm at Navigation Homes Stadium or live on Sky Sport 1. Followed by Waikato playing Auckland Storm at 2.35pm at FMG Stadium Waikato or live on Sky Sport select.
If Counties Manukau Heat and Waikato go through as they are favoured to do, this will be the first final since NZR sanctioned the competition in 1999 to not feature Auckland or Canterbury. So for that reason alone I am cheering these two teams on to get another first this week!
With you,
Alice