Then and now …
Breakthrough games in Women’s Rugby
1972 Agame against an Invitation XV played at Rugby Park (it was not allowed to be played at Lancaster Park)
1980 NZ Women v Californian Kiwis. A curtain raiser for the men’s Canterbury vs Fiji game played at Lancaster Park
June 30 1986 Canterbury vs Rio Grande Surfers (from San Diego) as a curtain raiser for men’s NZ vs France
22 July 1989 NZ vs Californian Grizzlies at Lancaster Park. The first NZ women’s team, chosen by selectors appointed by NZRFU. With not quite full test status, the team is called ‘A New Zealand XV’
Women’s rugby has come a long way
2017 The Black Ferns are the first women’s team ever to be named the World Rugby Team of the Year
2017 The Black Ferns are named New Zealanders of the Year by the NZ Herald
2018 At a celebration reunion to mark the 20th anniversary of the Black Ferns 1998 Women’s Rugby World Cup victory, women players were honoured with Test caps for the first time
2018 For the first time women players are offered professional salaried contracts to play the game
2018 Women’s Rugby World Cup winning captain Fiao’oFaamausili heads the list of the rugby service awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List
The Black Ferns
2017 Winners of the World Rugby Team of the Year
If you live in Canterbury or are visiting, come to the Canterbury Rugby Football Union’s home at Rugby Park, Corner of Malvern & Rutland Streets, St Albans, Christchurch to see more of the story of Women’s Rugby in New Zealand.