The Rise of Women in New Zealand’s Rugby Today

Women now make up 20% of rugby players in New Zealand. However, breaking down stereotypes that have been around for a long time is difficult.

Despite the apparent growth of women’s rugby in New Zealand at a quicker rate than men’s rugby, the gender pay gap persists.

Although New Zealand Rugby has changed its tune and the government has poured money into the industry, very few women can make living playing rugby.

Here, we’ll discuss Leslie Elder, a rugby union player for the Black Ferns from New Zealand. Let’s start!

Leslie Ann Elder’s Epic Journey

At age 8, Les Elder participated in her first rugby game. Elder had just gotten off the netball field when she heard that the boys’ team in Taumarunui, the small rural New Zealand town where she resided, was short a player. Something clicked as she played. She commented on how much she enjoyed the game because of the toughness and difficulty it presented.

She sneaked onto the field as a child and played about until she was fourteen when she finally committed to joining the school’s squad. However, the school had never had a female athlete before. To avoid the crush of her teammates in the locker room before games, she would dress in her parents’ car or hide behind some trees. After several years, her coach finally drew her aside and broke the news that she wouldn’t return for the upcoming season.

Because of Elder, the school was unsure how to organize overnight training camps. The group decided to ignore her rather than try to figure out a way to include her for a long time after; she had no interest in playing rugby because of her bitter experience.

The Gender Revolution in Rugby

New Zealanders have made rugby their religion for decades. Men, in particular, are socialized to play, watch, and obsess over sports or casinos and play slots like 40 burning hot.

A notable rugby commentator and player, Alice Soper, has stated that “rugby maintains a core role in male identity in New Zealand.”

But a revolution of the sexes is on the rise. Over the past few years, fewer and fewer New Zealand men have taken up the sport of rugby, while women have quickly taken their place. Women now make up about one-fifth of the country’s rugby players.

In 2022, women’s fifteens rugby will have its first professional domestic championship. The Women’s World Cup will be held there in October.

Despite the meteoric rise of women’s rugby, traditional rugby preconceptions have been difficult to dispel.

Many saw it as a manifestation of the perpetuation of gendered expectations and systemic barriers that have always hindered women’s sports. Soper said that “sexism and racism have evolved” throughout the years.

Rugby is a defining part of the male experience. The presence of women there raises the question, “What does it mean?” The group expressed regret after the fact, but the damage had already been done.

The fundamentals of the game are the first barrier for women who desire to play rugby.

Because “there are very few providers who genuinely make a female kit,” Soper added, “you’re going to be wearing men’s attire.” She said that urinals are still plentiful in locker rooms, and male names dominate honor rolls at clubs around the country.

Even at the highest levels of competition, those difficulties remain. Earlier this year, Sports New Zealand, the government agency in charge of the country’s sports sector, mandated that boards of all representative sports bodies be comprised of at least 40% women. New Zealand Rugby is the only major organization to fall short of the goal, with only two women on its nine-person board.

Equal rights activists say this has given New Zealand Rugby license to disregard the sport of rugby for women. As Soper put it, women, Maori, and Pasifika play rugby, but “older white males” still control the sport. Our voices are not being heard in the corridors of power, which is a serious issue.

As a result, fewer funds, fewer resources, and significantly fewer media attention are allocated to issues affecting women.

New Zealand’s supremacy in international competitions has suffered due to this lack of attention, which concerns a nation that values its status as a rugby leader.

The Success Of Black Ferns

The Black Ferns have been incredibly successful at international test matches, with a winning ratio of around 90% over several decades. For the last six years, this team has won five World Cups.

However, the Black Ferns could not train and compete as frequently as their overseas counterparts, who are quickly developing as viable challengers, until the advent of a high-quality professional women’s league in New Zealand.

There is concern that New Zealand is losing great players because they cannot take extended periods of unpaid vacation while trying to break into the top tier of competition due to underinvestment.

The winds of change have started blowing. More resources are being allocated to women’s rugby by New Zealand Rugby than ever. The number of women paid to play rugby and the number of games they may play has soared this year with the introduction of Aupiki, a professional tournament for four regional teams.