New Zealand Rugby has taken a big step forward in announcing the award of new contracts to 29 players. They are:
Ariana Bayler (Waikato)
Eloise Blackwell (Auckland)
Alana Bremner (Canterbury)
Chelsea Bremner (Canterbury)
Grace Brooker (Canterbury)
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
Ruahei Demant (Auckland)
Amy du Plessis (Canterbury)
Les Elder (Bay of Plenty)
Carla Hohepa (Waikato)
Renee Holmes (Waikato)
Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Wellington)
Pip Love (Canterbury)
Patricia Maliepo (Auckland)
Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu (Counties Manukau)
Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland)
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Auckland)
Krystal Murray (Northland)
Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (Auckland)
Georgia Ponsonby (Canterbury)
Cheyelle Robins-Reti (Waikato)
Maiakawanakaukani Roos (Auckland)
Amy Rule (Canterbury)
Chelsea Semple nee Alley (Waikato)
Kennedy Simon (Waikato)
Grace Steinmetz (Canterbury)
Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau)
Renee Wickliffe (Bay of Plenty)
Kelsie Wills (Bay of Plenty)
Put simply, these players can now leave their current employ and devote themselves more completely to the game. The retainer contracts of 2018 are replaced by an improved type, offering higher pay plus further benefits.
They won’t be working together in one location. Instead five hubs are being established in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. This makes an important contrast with the English set-up, where Red Roses meet together at regular intervals before dispersing back to their clubs.
One vital ingredient is explained as follows: ‘One day a week is committed to Personal Development with players focussing on the areas of career/education and work, finance and asset protection, character development, mental wellness and other professional rugby obligations and expectations.’
This element offers an interesting comparison with the French and English contract-systems. National unions are still working out what precisely the optimum model is.
More contracts are promised at a later date.
Some Names
Players who didn’t make the trip to Europe last autumn include Chelsea Bremner, Marino-Tauhinu, Steinmetz, Tubic and, most strikingly, Charmaine McMenamin (Smith). A neck injury forced her to retire prematurely, but the medics changed their minds shortly after she gave birth, and she has been able to pick up her career again. That is a major plus for the Ferns and heartening news for her.
Bremner is the elder sister of Alana Bremner who started in the first tour match in Exeter.
One notable absentee from the list is Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, whose post-tour complaints kicked up a storm that has not yet died down. Until we hear the results of the enquiry ordered by NZR, we can’t begin to assess the consequences.
In time for the World Cup?
Of course these contracts must be viewed long-term, but we must wonder how quickly they will affect the onfield performance of the Black Ferns. They received an unpleasant shock in Europe. Here is an initial NZR response to loud criticism, but it remains to be seen how far the new arrangements can improve the Ferns’ hopes for another World Cup win.
Parting Shot
The news broke on 13 February in Europe, but on 14 February in New Zealand.
The postscript to the news on Valentine’s Day has a whiff of black (or rose-coloured?) humour:
‘Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here are some special Black Ferns Valentine’s Day cards just for you!’
