More than a game for young wāhine

More than a game for young wāhine

From the Olympic Games to the Black Ferns and Women’s NRL, women’s sport is being televised more often, inspiring young wāhine to the possibilities in not only sport, but life.

With the idea that these young women need spaces to come together with their peers and play against their peers, the Rāhui Māreikura – girls rugby programme – has been established. It’s been fortunate to be supported by funding from the Ōtaki Community Board, local sponsors Concrete Doctors, Dukes Plumbing, Luxury Golf Tours, and e Accounting Services, and using a van supplied by Ngā Hapū Ōtaki.

After playing a season with the boys, a bunch of girls who make up the majority of their usual year 7 and 8 rugby team are now embarking on the all-girls rugby kaupapa in Ōtaki.

There are three important goals that lay the foundation for Ōtaki’s young wāhine to thrive, not just in sport but life:

1. enhance and increase confidence and self esteem

2. enhance and increase a sense of belonging

3. inspire their future aspirations on and off the field.

To achieve all this is not just down to rugby training and games.

Inside the 10-week kaupapa is a careers day where the two teams of girls (years 5 and 6, and years 7 and 8) visit “wāhine in work” to expose their minds to what’s possible for their careers.

It’s no secret that there’s a challenge for wāhine to gain pay equity with tāne. By visiting wāhine in senior, leadership or business owner roles, young wāhine in the programme see that anything is possible.

On the field involvement includes two training sessions a week and games through August and September. It’s a build-up to a girls festival in Ōtaki on September 24, the Rāhui Royale. Both teams and the year 7 and 8s will go on to the National Girls Festival in Auckland on September 28-29.

The coaches are Rauru Walker, a father and tumuaki (principal) at Ōtaki School, and Jared Tuoro, a father and former coach for the Manawatū Cyclones and the Scotland Women’s team at the 2010 Women’s World Cup. They both have daughters in the team and are excited about the growth and interest in the girls game.

“Like many other parents we supported our girls and started coaching,” Jared says. “Knowing the boys don’t like to pass the ball so much to the girls, we wanted to create a space where the girls could step into their own mana motuhake.

“The confidence they gain by playing with and against their peers is huge. We then build this confidence by playing against some all-boys teams and they realise they can perform really well – and even better – and this confidence is like a seed that’s planted, so one day they will take that into their careers and be confident about what they bring to their chosen career and workplace.”

The coaches want Rāhui Māreikura to continue offering opportunities for girls to come together and play throughout the age grades.

“We’re always looking for other coaches and supporters passionate about growing the game for girls,” Rauru says. “We would love you to get in touch.”

For more information or to offer assistance, call Jared on 027 237 1446.