Contracts necessary to stave off competition
New Zealand could have lost many of its top Black Ferns if NZ Rugby didn’t make the move to pay players.
It is a watershed moment for the sport in New Zealand, but if it didn’t happen the chances of further World Cup success for the Black Ferns would have been remote.
The Warriors are starting a women’s team to compete in a new NRL-backed competition, the AFL in Australia has been a momentous success and in other places around the world professional competitions have started up.
‘‘We absolutely had to do this because of the other codes and what’s happening around the world with rugby itself,’’ Black Ferns campaign manager and former player Hannah Porter said. ‘‘Japan has got a professional league, England has got a semiprofessional league and France has too.
‘‘So over the next couple of years, if we hadn’t done this then we would have found more players going overseas to play rugby.’’
The money doesn’t compare to what men’s players get from rugby, but it is a start and it does mean that there will be less of a financial burden on players representing New Zealand.
‘‘It’s to support the hours that they’re training,’’ Porter said. ‘‘It’s 10 to 14 hours that we’re supporting them with, but then putting the resource around them within the provincial unions to make sure they have good strength and conditioning coaches, good skills coaches, physios and nutritionists.
‘‘On top of that, there are match payments for the 28 that make the team.
‘‘That hasn’t changed the last couple of years and will be $2000 a week. Within the contract there are other ways to bolster those payments, with saving schemes and legacy funds, plus the ability to do some commercial work.’’
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore believes the money will make a difference to how these players develop and progress, but it will also inspire the next wave of potential Black Ferns.
‘‘Having players contracted will help more players aspire to want to play at a high level, Moore said.