10 BLACK FERNS STRIKE PAY DIRT
Women’s rugby has faced a long and dicult battle to gain recognition and adequate support in New Zealand.
The Black Ferns have battled to be recognised as a high performance team and there have been multiple incidents that have suggested New Zealand rugby is not genuinely gender diverse.
But in April this year a huge breakthrough was made when it was revealed that for the first time in history, retainer contracts would be oered to 35 Black Ferns players.
The value of the contracts ranged from $15,000 to $45,000 and while this is dwarfed by the money paid to the leading male players, it is at least a start in the battle to close the pay gender gap.