The uniting of three rugby clubs to create a new women’s team for the start of the 2022 season is expected to deliver a healthy boost for women’s rugby in West Auckland. 

Suburbs, Waitākere and Waitematā Rugby Clubs have collaborated to create the Wahine West Ranges with the key motivation of providing West Auckland women the opportunity to excel, participate and compete in women’s rugby.

Brent Semmons from Waitematā Rugby Club says it’s the first time the clubs have united to create a womens team.

“This is an opportunity to retain and recruit wahine to our community, whether it’s to participate or to excel as a player or as an administrator/coach. What we’re doing is offering an option to do either, so they don’t have to go to the other parts of the city.

“Working independently our respective clubs don’t have the numbers to make up a full women’s team, but as a united entity we do.  This is a real game changer for women interested in playing rugby this season and beyond.”

Sport Waitākere has provided guidance and support with concept, coach development and funding opportunities to the clubs to support the creation of the new team.

Casey Redman, Regional Sport Director and Women and Girls Lead at Sport Waitākere, says the Wahine West Ranges will provide an important new opportunity for West Auckland women to play, develop and grow in the game of rugby.

“Over recent years, rugby has grown hugely in popularity for women.  Unfortunately though, in some locations there are still limited options for girls and women to play, usually due to insufficient numbers to make up a team,” says Casey.

“The launch of the Wahine West Ranges is going to provide a really exciting pathway for girls and women looking to give it a go or transition into the sport from other winter codes.  Moving forward, we’ll be working closely with our secondary school partners to foster connections with a view to helping to grow the programme in the second year and into the future.”

Article added: Wednesday 15 June 2022