Why we should watch Super Rugby Aupiki
Less than 18 months ago, a sea of black-clad fans transformed Auckland’s Eden Park into a cauldron of anticipation. However, the fervour wasn’t for the All Blacks, but the Black Ferns, our powerhouse in women’s rugby.
Their 34-31 World Cup final victory over England resonated, a a crescendo that reverberated through the nation.
Yet, as the spotlight now shifts to the third Super Rugby Aupiki season, the echo of those roaring crowds faces an unexpected hurdle: capturing the sustained attention of domestic spectators.
Despite the groundbreaking success of the World Cup, the excitement surrounding women’s rugby hasn’t seamlessly translated to sustained local interest.
The extension of Super Rugby Aupiki into the 2024 campaign elicited mixed reactions, underscoring the lingering issues that impede the growth of women’s rugby here.
While strides have been made in Super Rugby Aupiki, the narrative reveals a stark reality — a lack of investment and a failure to capitalise on momentum.
In England, where football is the national game, top women’s club teams are consistently selling out games. Arsenal women have an average attendance of 31,000 a game this season. Here, where rugby is the national sport, Aupiki games are lucky to get a couple of thousand.
Although the extension introduced improvements, such as a longer preseason training regimen and increased player payments, the competition remains semi-professional. Non-Black Ferns players under contract will now receive a minimum payment of $17,000 for the season, more than doubling their previous earnings.
Yet, this falls short, as many players still juggle their rugby careers with other responsibilities. In the men’s Super Rugby Pacific’s regular season, the minimum retainer is $75,000.
The recent extension falls short of transforming the competition into a fully professional endeavour. This gap becomes apparent when compared to England’s professional league, running for seven months with eight teams, exposing the challenges that hamper New Zealand’s dominance on the global stage.
However, the underwhelming professionalisation efforts are not the sole reason for the tepid interest in New Zealand’s only professional women’s competition. Rugby, deeply embedded in the nation’s DNA, thrives on spectacle and engagement.
Herein lies the untapped potential of women’s rugby — a more dynamic and strategic spectacle. Physiological nuances lead female athletes to employ smarter strategies, shifting the narrative from mere physicality to intricate ball control and possession.
As the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki season unfolds, promising heightened talent and depth, the stage is set for a more thrilling setup.
The home-and-away fixtures preceding the playoffs and final offer a tantalising prospect, with players eager to shine in a new World Cup cycle.
The success of women’s rugby transcends mere statistics; it’s about captivating hearts and minds.
If those 40,000 fans, who once painted Eden Park in black, tune in to or attend one game this season, they may witness the start of a cultural shift.