The future of women’s Rugby is looking bright as New Zealand set professional contracts

30 of the country’s best female 15 a-side rugby players stand to earn $40,000 – $45,000 this year, part of an historic agreement between the players’ association and New Zealand Rugby. The contracted players at Black Ferns will have to assemble for 50 days this year, this will be part of their national duty, on top of the training within the high performance men’s provincial programmes.

Rob Nichol, the chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association said that the top 30 would need to work to flesh out their rugby income as the contracts were based on time equivalents.

“I honestly believe it’s a really good deal and we’ve got to be positive about it. It’s a start” Kendra Cocksedge said, Black Ferns halfback. Cocksedge, a former world player of the year was one of a handful of Black Ferns who helped broker this deal. She was at every meeting, participated in every conference call and knows the detail back to front.

NZR general manager of rugby Neil Soresen, added that the major difference is that the male players, apart from annual leave of between four and eight weeks, were fulltime. The Black Ferns were getting the same for just 50 days in camp a year.

Eventually they might see the players involved in a Super Rugby – type competition and be aligned to franchises. However, in the meantime, the 30 ladies who have contracts will become part of the existing men’s high performance at academy programmes at the 14 of the New Zealand’s provincial unions.

The goal now is to grow the team’s commitments and generate revenue streams. For now, though, an important pathway into professional sport have been opened for female athletes.