THIS IS OUR GAME WOMEN S RUGBY STRATEGY

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Angelina Pitts
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1 THIS IS OUR GAME WOMEN S RUGBY STRATEGY

3 PUBLISHED BY NEW ZEALAND RUGBY WELLINGTON OFFICE New Zealand Rugby House Level 4, 100 Molesworth Street Wellington 6011, New Zealand P: +64 (0) E: Postal Address PO Box 2172, Wellington 6140, New Zealand AUCKLAND OFFICE Office 4A, 125 The Strand Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand P: +64 (0) E: Postal Address PO Box 2453, Shortland Street, Auckland, New Zealand FIND US ONLINE For rugby fans: allblacks.com For rugby in New Zealand: nzrugby.co.nz For junior rugby: smallblacks.co.nz For coaching resources: coachingtoolbox.co.nz For teaching resources: ruggerland.co.nz Facebook: facebook.com/nzwomensrugby Twitter: twitter.com/allblacks Instagram: instagram.com/allblacks Google+: plus.google.com/+allblacks THIS IS OUR GAME WOMEN S RUGBY STRATEGY A GROWING INTEREST 4 STRENGTHENING THE WOMEN S GAME 6 PICTURING SUCCESS 8 THE PATH TO SUCCESS - OUR FOCUS 9 BUILDING A DEDICATED TEAM 10 OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY 12 RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF WOMEN S RUGBY 14 OUR INITIAL FOCUS 16 FUNDING THE WOMEN S RUGBY STRATEGY 18 COMMITTED VALUES 19 ILLUSTRATIONS DAVE LINTOTT, GETTY IMAGES, PHOTOSPORT, PENINA MOMOISEA

4 A GROWING INTEREST More New Zealand girls and women are playing rugby than ever before. At the highest levels of the global game New Zealand women dominate and thousands of girls all over the country are choosing Rippa Rugby over other sports. Much of the growth is due to the commitment of female players themselves combined with their love of our national game. They are determined to play, encourage others to take up the sport, seek opportunities to play in competitions and work hard to develop their skills. It is clear girls and women want to play and New Zealand Rugby is committed to providing opportunities for them and encouraging a lifelong love of the game. New Zealand Rugby s Women s Rugby Strategy 2015 to 2021 capitalises on the groundwork that has begun as a result of the previous strategy and provides a structure and pathways for players at all levels to have opportunities to play and succeed in rugby. 4

6 STRENGTHENING THE WOMEN S GAME In reviewing the success of New Zealand Women s Rugby Strategy Strengthening the Women s Game it was clear more could be done to further grow the women s game. While gains had been made in increasing player numbers, further development and resourcing was required. Sevens was highlighted as the real growth opportunity for the women s game and New Zealand Rugby s High Performance Strategy 2012 to 2016 was identified as an effective blueprint for delivering success for women s Sevens. The goal is simple but clear; an Olympic gold medal for the New Zealand Women s Sevens team. For women to succeed in rugby at any level, they need more opportunities to play. To deliver these opportunities for girls and women, Schools, Clubs and Provincial Unions need to be supported and wellresourced. The Women s Rugby Strategy aims to harness the growing popularity of rugby among girls and women and provides a framework to grow the game from Small Blacks, through to Schools, Clubs and at high performance level. The Strategy identifies the areas where investment is required, specialist staff will be appointed and provides a success profile for women s rugby. 6

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PICTURING SUCCESS New Zealand Rugby s goals for women s rugby by 2021: More women playing more (21,000 by 2021) This is an ambitious goal but one we are determined to reach.

8 PICTURING SUCCESS New Zealand Rugby s goals for women s rugby by 2021: More women playing more (21,000 by 2021) This is an ambitious goal but one we are determined to reach. With a large base of Small Blacks players, an obvious focus area will be keeping girls in the game as they move into secondary school and beyond. Women having a lifelong love of the game Beyond playing rugby, we want women to maintain their involvement in the game through contributing their skills to refereeing, coaching, volunteering at their club, and passing on their love of rugby to their families. Black Ferns and New Zealand Women s Sevens winning pinnacle events including Rugby World Cups and Olympic gold medals New Zealand has dominated women s rugby in recent years, but as the competition heats up, our goals remain; to be world champions in fifteens and sevens and Olympic gold medallists. 8 7

THE PATH TO SUCCESS OUR FOCUS New Zealand Rugby has identified the key areas of focus to ensure we reach our goals for women s rugby: Building a team solely focused on

9 THE PATH TO SUCCESS OUR FOCUS New Zealand Rugby has identified the key areas of focus to ensure we reach our goals for women s rugby: Building a team solely focused on the growth of women s rugby Developing opportunities for women to play that suit their needs Rugby recognising the value of greater numbers of women playing more often

10 BUILDING A DEDICATED TEAM In 2014 women s rugby was delivered by the same teams within New Zealand Rugby as the men s game. While there was a significant amount of support for women s rugby there was no team within the organisation solely focussed on growing the women s game. Achieving our ambitious goals for the women s game requires dedicated focus by a team passionate about women s rugby, supported and resourced by New Zealand Rugby the Women s Rugby team. The Women s Rugby team is led by New Zealand Rugby s Head of Women s Rugby Development, who is based in Wellington and supported by three Regional Women s Rugby Development Officers representing each of the Zonal Regions Northern, Central and Southern. Support for the Women s Rugby team comes from New Zealand Rugby Board and Executive team, Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools. The Women s Rugby team is tasked with creating opportunities for women to play which suit their needs and championing and building support for the women s game within New Zealand Rugby and the wider community. 10

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12 OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY The growing number of female players sends a clear message girls and women want to play rugby. Providing regular opportunities at all levels of the game for girls and women to play at a level that matches their skill and ability is fundamental for growing the game. The first step to achieving this is understanding both the current reality and the expectations of players. Our records show a marked drop off from junior players to secondary school and then again at senior player level. Then, we can develop playing opportunities to meet their expectations at every level of the game. Women want to play and be well supported by quality coaches, referees and administrators. The playing opportunities will be piloted at first, then reviewed and adapted before being rolled out to other areas. Regular reviews will ensure we continue to learn and adapt to changing needs and remain focused on 21,000 by We need to take the time to understand the reasons for player drop-off. Rather than deliver the game to girls and women in the same way it is delivered to their male counterparts, we will take the time to understand the expectations of female rugby players. New Zealand Rugby registered female rugby players ,950 15,182 15,913 17,825 12

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14 RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF WOMEN S RUGBY The Women s Rugby Strategy 2015 to 2021 places a firm stake in the ground, establishing the development of the women s game as a priority for growing rugby in New Zealand. For New Zealand Rugby that shift means the women s game is front of mind across the organisation and that we will proactively seek opportunities to grow women s rugby. Achieving the strategy s objectives requires the genuine support of the entire rugby community. This includes the New Zealand Rugby Board, New Zealand Rugby, Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools. To help Provincial Unions further develop the women s game, New Zealand Rugby s dedicated Women s Rugby team will develop systems and structures to recruit, develop and retain players and the coaches, referees and administrators who support them. New Zealand Rugby and Provincial Unions will jointly pilot new competition structures to test their effectiveness in growing numbers of players before handing them over to Provincial Unions to deliver. New Zealand Rugby s Women s Rugby team will work with Schools and Clubs to provide playing opportunities that meet the needs of their students and communities they support. For Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools it means creating an environment for women s rugby that is: Easy to administer Resource friendly; and Inclusive of women s rugby participants at every level 14

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16 OUR INITIAL FOCUS Each year the strategy will be reviewed to ensure we are on track to meet our goals. The annual review will also set out the tactical focus areas for the following year. Building a team that is solely focused on the growth of women s rugby: Recruit, appoint and resource the New Zealand Rugby s Head of Women s Rugby Development and Development Officers; and Introduce the strategy to the extended team New Zealand Rugby Board and Executive Team, Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools. Developing opportunities for women who want to play: Research current opportunities and best practice at each level; Define the playing opportunity needs of women at each level; Develop pilot playing opportunities in at least three Provincial Unions; and Evaluate the effectiveness of the opportunities; Deliver effective coach and referee development opportunities; Rugby recognising the value of more women playing more: New Zealand Rugby Board proactively promotes the opportunities associated with more women playing more; Build critical relationships with Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools; Make supporting women s rugby easy for Provincial Unions, Clubs and Schools; and Promote the awareness of women s rugby through a structured public affairs campaign. 16

18 FUNDING THE WOMEN S RUGBY STRATEGY An investment of close to $1.5 million will be required annually to implement this strategy. Each year funding will be linked to the annual tactical plan and subject to annual business budgeting planning and approach. The annual budget includes: Resourcing New Zealand Rugby s dedicated Women s Rugby team; Developing new playing opportunity pilots in three Provincial Unions; Coach, Referee and Administrator Development; Research to define what women want; Public Affairs Campaign; Black Ferns Annual Programme; and Women s National Provincial Championship costs. Costs associated with the Women s Sevens team and player assembly costs of the Black Ferns are included in the existing High Performance budget. 18

19 COMMITTED VALUES BEHIND WOMEN S RUGBY The Women s Strategy will be implemented using the core values of New Zealand Rugby: Love for the game We are passionate about rugby; and We are in a privileged position to work hard for something we love. Sportsmanship We provide opportunities for all by treating people fairly. Excellence We strive to be the best and be the leaders; and We aim high and stretch ourselves. Selflessness Guardianship We treasure the history of rugby; and We look to provide opportunities to add to it. Community We seek to work with the wider rugby communities to improve rugby for everyone involved. Mateship We value the contributions of everyone involved and the friendships that develop; We treat all with respect; and Fun and enjoyment are at the core of what we do. We operate as a team at all times; and We accept responsibility.

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