Women’s semi-pro series takes shape

New Zealand Rugby has four teams on board for its new elite women’s competition and momentum is building towards an official launch this year.

The governing body’s head of women’s rugby development, Cate Sexton, told Stuff this week that while there were still details to be ironed out, steady progress was being made.

‘‘I’m really pleased that we’ve got four teams signed up and we’re going through a head coach appointment process at the moment,’’ she said.

As had appeared likely, three of the four teams will be aligned to the three North Island Super Rugby franchises, the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, based in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, while the fourth will be aligned to the Crusaders and be based in Christchurch but will have representation from the whole South Island.

Sexton said it was yet to be confirmed whether the teams would play under the same names and identities as the existing men’s Super Rugby sides or whether they would generate new ones.

‘‘We’re in the process of appointing head coaches for the four clubs and we will be able to announce those in August, and they’ll be charged with the selection process of their teams by the end of September, after the FPC.

‘‘By late September, early October we will look to do a formal launch and announce the name of the competition and the name of the South Island team and the other clubs and put some faces to those clubs, which is really exciting.’’

Sexton said the plan was for the teams to first come together later this year, ahead of the competition proper starting in March, 2022.

‘‘In terms of a whole team getting together to prepare, there will be a time before Christmas, then pretty much all of February, heading into the competition in March.

‘‘It’s not full time – we’re not asking them to assemble and leave their jobs for three months. We’re working towards a Thursday to Sunday or a Friday to Monday assembly period.’’

Sexton added that the format for the initial season would be ‘‘short and sharp’’.

‘‘We’ve got to acknowledge that it is just a start and it is a bonus part of the World Cup buildup for players. It will be a straight round-robin competition and then the two top teams will go into a final.’’

Sexton said there had been positive talks with the Rugby Players’ Association around how players would be compensated for their time. ‘‘It is going to be a semi-professional competition, so that is a first for women’s XVs in a domestic competition [in New Zealand]. We’re really excited and pleased with the progress that we’re making, working with the RPA around ensuring that the players are compensated for the time we’re asking them to be away from their jobs or their centres.’’