Let’s prove worthy women’s cup hosts

Women’s rugby has some way to go to attract a crowd in this country. That was cruelly evident at Eden Park in August when the Black Ferns played the Australian women’s team as a prelude to the All Blacks against the Wallabies. Though the ground was a sell-out for the double header, very few ticket holders came to the women’s game.

New Zealand Rugby will be hoping for much better when it hosts the women’s World Cup in 2021. So will the Auckland Council’s events agency, Ateed, which estimates the cup may be worth $3.6 million to the city’s economy. The matches will be held in Auckland and Whangarei, which estimates its return at $6.4m. Think of a number and double it, perhaps.

But regardless of financial worth, NZ Rugby has done well to be awarded the event this week, beating a rival Australian bid. Australia reportedly won the backing of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the 42-member World Rugby Council but New Zealand’s case was supported by other southern hemisphere nations and those that will not have a team at the World Cup.

Doubtless New Zealand won the hosting contest on its promise of greater public enthusiasm rather than financial returns, just as it did when securing the 2011 Rugby World Cup.n The bid this time was also helped by the Black Ferns recent run of success.

The challenge now is to generate the national groundswell that made 2011 so enjoyable and memorable. It will be harder with games confined to the north but not impossible. Women’s rugby has a keen following and it is set to grow.