It’s hard work, but she loves it
At 36, Honey Hireme has seen a lot as a top athlete, and still has a lot to give to rugby and rugby league. Te Ahua Maitland reports.
It’s been hard work juggling three professional sports, motherhood and working fulltime for Honey Hireme.
Trainings are fitted in around work – often early hours in the morning then again late into the night – mahi has to flexible, and your employers have to be understanding with having a lot of time off.
Being a mum can often take a back seat to training camps, tournaments overseas and weekend sessions.
And don’t even mention the pay.
Hireme knows and understands the scenario all too well.
The 36-year-old mother of one has represented New Zealand in rugby, rugby league and rugby sevens, spanning around 15 years across the three codes.
When Hireme first made the national teams for rugby and rugby league, she had to pay to attend the training camps and games overseas.
‘‘Obviously, now we don’t have to pay and we receive a payment, whether its a tourney fee or set fee,’’ she said. ‘‘But I’ve seen a lot of changes in my time.’’
For the last four to five years she’s been juggling the Black Ferns and Kiwi Ferns.
Equal pay has been a highly discussed topic since rugby sevens was announced as an Olympic sport and the Black Ferns won the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year.
More male athletes are contracted professionally and fulltime, so their day can be 100 per cent committed and focused to training.
But not necessarily for women. The women’s rugby sevens have fought hard for a pay structure, in recent years introducing full-time contracts.
‘‘After sevens was announced for the Olympics, a payment structure was put in place for the men, but we had to work to have some sort of adequate payment scheme,’’ Hireme said.
She said the women were expected to compete at the same level as men and have the same expectations when it came to training.
‘‘We did have to fight really hard for it. It’s something that our senior players have worked hard to establish, and not just for us, but for the younger women coming through.’’
And while women’s rugby has come a long way, Hireme said women’s rugby league is even a greater step behind.
Her fourth Women’s Rugby League World Cup was the first year she got an initial payment followed by payment incentives if the team made the finals and if they won.
‘‘In a way, women’s rugby league is like the poor cousin to women’s rugby in New Zealand,’’ she said. ‘‘We’ve always been really grateful for what we’ve got in both sports, but I have noticed a significant difference.’’
She said with rugby there would be rooms of Adidas gear for the players to pick and choose from, where the Kiwi Ferns got one backpack kit.
‘‘The girls in both scenarios were absolutely buzzing, don’t get me wrong. And I am really grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of both campaigns.
‘‘One thing is I am lucky with the flexibility with being able to switch between the two codes, while men are typically locked into one contract and can’t jump between the two.’’
While Hireme is ‘‘considering retirement’’, she will see how this year goes with the Black Ferns and Kiwi Ferns.
Most importantly, she hopes to pave the way for the younger generation of women coming through.
‘‘If I see the younger women earning good money and playing great in their chosen sport, I will feel proud to know that I helped contribute to that.’’
She’s hopeful a NRL women’s league will go ahead in the second half of the year, and she’ll get picked up by a team. She also heads into a Black Ferns camp in a few weeks.
She is also in a few coaching roles, and would like to continue to be a part of the different codes in the future.
‘‘I’ve played my full career out with the mindset of, ‘if my body is still willing to play then I’ll keep playing’, so I’m rocking 37 very soon.
‘‘A lot of countries are really putting a lot of resources in the women’s game, so hopefully New Zealand follows so we stay at the top of the game.’’
‘‘I’ve played my full career out with the mindset of, ‘if my body is still willing to play then I’ll keep playing’, so I’m rocking 37 very soon’’.
Honey Hireme