Rugby: New Zealand Rugby to invest NZ$21m (€12.02m) to develop the women's game

New Zealand Rugby will invest NZ$21m (€12.02m) in 2023, as part of a ten-year plan (2023-2033) to develop women's rugby, announced the body on 05/04/2023. In particular, it aims to create six new positions dedicated to women's rugby.

The federation also unveiled the "New Zealand Women and Girls in Rugby System Strategy", a guide that "sets out the key focus areas, priorities, and guiding principles to transform the game at all levels" and the result of a consultation with 2,200 people involved in rugby. The strategy is divided into five strategic pillars: a more inclusive culture, reforming the professional rugby system, encouraging girls' and women's participation, performance development and transition. The various rugby structures are invited to implement these pillars at the local level.

"We are riding an extraordinary wave of excitement and engagement with women's rugby in Aotearoa, the likes of which we've never seen. The Black Ferns amazing victory last year (Women's Rugby World Cup 2021) has shown what's possible when we all come together in support of our wāhine (women). We…