Progress on quality Ferns opponents
‘‘As well as being a pure rugby competition, at that time of year it created a rugby festival-type feel.
‘‘So we’d love to do that, it would just need a bit more time. Some of these things are moving quite fluidly and we don’t have any hard and fast timeframes, but we know with that horizon we’re working to, we have to work reasonably quickly now.’’
Dates aren’t locked in for the WXV, but there could be a small overlap with the men’s Rugby World Cup, which takes place in France from September 8 to October 28.
The only other fixture the Black Ferns could play in New Zealand this year would be the home test in the Laurie O’Reilly Cup, played against Australia.
But the WXV would give the
Black Ferns plenty of exposure in New Zealand this year and allow NZ Rugby to take the team around the country, as opposed to last year’s World Cup, which was just in Whangā rei and Auckland. Robinson said it’s crucial to build on the momentum of that event.
‘‘We’re hugely focussed on it,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a fair observation people have around pinnacle events. If we look at the men’s World Cup we had in 2011, there was an immediate surge in interest, participation and engagement.
‘‘We’re already seeing through some of the initial feedback through our provinces that we’re going to see more teams in many of our provinces playing in the women’s competitions at club level.
‘‘We’re expecting to see similar bounces of interest at junior level at primary and secondary schools.’’
Meanwhile, Robinson hopes Ruby Tui will make a return to rugby at some point. The highest-profile player in the Black Ferns is skipping this year’s Super Rugby Aupiki while she contemplates what she does next, although she will be in the commentary box for Sky Sport.
‘‘She’s a fantastic player and personality in our game,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘Ruby is taking a bit of time out at the moment. I know the conversations are ongoing, Allan [Bunting, new Black Ferns coach] is in regular contact with the likes of Ruby and other players and we’d love to see her back in the frame.’’