You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave from News Talk Z'B.

You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave from News Talk Z'B.

We join now by New Zealand and Rugby's head of women's High Performance, Hannah Porter. Hello to you, hon, Do I trust you well?

We join now by New Zealand and Rugby's head of women's High Performance, Hannah Porter. Hello to you, hon, Do I trust you well?

I'm very well. Thank you Darcy? How are you?

I'm very well. Thank you Darcy? How are you?

Yeah? Good? Big day a champions Final. This is the headline Champion Final headlines the twenty twenty five sky At Rugby O Picky draw announced with the draw is out but there is a cherry on the top. This is exciting stuff. How does this all finish? Where's this heading? Hannah?

Yeah? Good? Big day a champions Final. This is the headline Champion Final headlines the twenty twenty five sky At Rugby O Picky draw announced with the draw is out but there is a cherry on the top. This is exciting stuff. How does this all finish? Where's this heading? Hannah?

Yeah, really exciting and look, it's taken a while to get to this point. It's the first year that Super robw and Super Rugby Opicky will align their dates with each other, so that's the first step, and this is how we've got to the championship match at the end, which is really exciting and I know the clubs are really looking forward to taking part in the first ever Championship final. But certainly our intention that these two competitions keep growing together and there's further alignment in the future.

Yeah, really exciting and look, it's taken a while to get to this point. It's the first year that Super robw and Super Rugby Opicky will align their dates with each other, so that's the first step, and this is how we've got to the championship match at the end, which is really exciting and I know the clubs are really looking forward to taking part in the first ever Championship final. But certainly our intention that these two competitions keep growing together and there's further alignment in the future.

When you say in the future, there's mentioned in the release that possibly it becomes a competition, a unit. It all runs to the same drum. Is that the thought process behind us?

When you say in the future, there's mentioned in the release that possibly it becomes a competition, a unit. It all runs to the same drum. Is that the thought process behind us?

Yeah, Look, there's still a lot of work to get to that point, but Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby are working really closely in what would be the best thing for the competition and we both know that providing a longer competition for our women's players and a really meaningful competition OPRAH Key and Super Rugby Super w is from a performance point of view really important to get players ready for international level, but not only that, engage with the fans and provide a meaningful rugby competition and domestically so lots of benefits for these competitions to grow, really open communication around what that could look like in the future, and knowing that we want these competitions to run for longer periods of time.

Yeah, Look, there's still a lot of work to get to that point, but Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby are working really closely in what would be the best thing for the competition and we both know that providing a longer competition for our women's players and a really meaningful competition OPRAH Key and Super Rugby Super w is from a performance point of view really important to get players ready for international level, but not only that, engage with the fans and provide a meaningful rugby competition and domestically so lots of benefits for these competitions to grow, really open communication around what that could look like in the future, and knowing that we want these competitions to run for longer periods of time.

It's a growth area in sport, in rugby, in women's sport, is rugby union that is the way forward. And you guys appear to be running ahead of the curve by design. You've really been active in the space, haven't you.

It's a growth area in sport, in rugby, in women's sport, is rugby union that is the way forward. And you guys appear to be running ahead of the curve by design. You've really been active in the space, haven't you.

Yeah, I don't know if we're leading the space. The Northern Hemisphere have probably been at it a little bit longer than what we have. But I think what we are doing is we're listening to sent me what the athletes want and what the fans want, which is growing in this domestic space. So look, I would hope to think in the next couple of years where we've got a product that's it's really cool to watch, but not only that, it provides a really good performance opportunity for our athletes.

Yeah, I don't know if we're leading the space. The Northern Hemisphere have probably been at it a little bit longer than what we have. But I think what we are doing is we're listening to sent me what the athletes want and what the fans want, which is growing in this domestic space. So look, I would hope to think in the next couple of years where we've got a product that's it's really cool to watch, but not only that, it provides a really good performance opportunity for our athletes.

It's also very important to have aspirations and inspirations for young athletes coming through. They have to be up there, don't They are these players. So there are young girls, Hey, I'm six years old, I want to play this game because look at them. I mean that's a massive part of what you're doing, surely, Hannah.

It's also very important to have aspirations and inspirations for young athletes coming through. They have to be up there, don't They are these players. So there are young girls, Hey, I'm six years old, I want to play this game because look at them. I mean that's a massive part of what you're doing, surely, Hannah.

Yeah, absolutely, And I think playing domestically, I think having it at times where everyone can watch it and engage with it is really important. Not certainly not all of our international games have played at friendly times for younger watchers. So being able to put that domestic product up at primetime TV for everyone to be able to engage with it is really important. In this competition, along with FPCR allows us to do that so that people that are really interested in it have the chance to actually view it and take part.

Yeah, absolutely, And I think playing domestically, I think having it at times where everyone can watch it and engage with it is really important. Not certainly not all of our international games have played at friendly times for younger watchers. So being able to put that domestic product up at primetime TV for everyone to be able to engage with it is really important. In this competition, along with FPCR allows us to do that so that people that are really interested in it have the chance to actually view it and take part.

Would have been your biggest challenges around promoting the game and pushing Opicky foard the way you have over the last three or four years.

Would have been your biggest challenges around promoting the game and pushing Opicky foard the way you have over the last three or four years.

Look, challenges, opportunities. Rugby's a little bit of a slow moving beast. Sometimes there's lots of people to consider and lots of opinions to consider as what the best way forward is. So I think we're getting there. We definitely want to keep showing progression and I think this championship game does that. But we do actually just want to keep progressing the game. We know how important having this domestic product is for our females, so we do want to keep growing that out and getting it to a point where it looked potentially it's it's a longer period in the next couple of years or in the future anyway.

Look, challenges, opportunities. Rugby's a little bit of a slow moving beast. Sometimes there's lots of people to consider and lots of opinions to consider as what the best way forward is. So I think we're getting there. We definitely want to keep showing progression and I think this championship game does that. But we do actually just want to keep progressing the game. We know how important having this domestic product is for our females, so we do want to keep growing that out and getting it to a point where it looked potentially it's it's a longer period in the next couple of years or in the future anyway.

Well, we know all about want though, But what's slowing that down? Is there an interest from the public as a sponsor money behind it? Is there anything particularly holding you back that needs to be addressed.

Well, we know all about want though, But what's slowing that down? Is there an interest from the public as a sponsor money behind it? Is there anything particularly holding you back that needs to be addressed.

No, there's nothing holding us back. I think what's playing out in the background is also the woman's global calendar. We've not had a global calendar for the woman's game before. So as of twenty twenty six, you will see two distinct windows where in the front end of the year there will be internationals and that they will be regionally based. So what that means in New Zealand is packed for will we played in the front end of the year and then a global calendar will sit in September October, and so that really what that piece of work, and it's been a big piece of work and it's taken two years to get there, is to really solidify what those windows international windows are, so when you're creating domestic competitions, you can sit outside of those windows to make sure that all of your best players can actually be plating domestic rugby. So that will come into play in twenty twenty six. And now that we know that that that calendar is in place, it becomes a lot easier to put our domestic products in place. But it has taken, as I said, it has taken two years to get to that point. So really excited about what the future looks like from both international game and the domestic game.

No, there's nothing holding us back. I think what's playing out in the background is also the woman's global calendar. We've not had a global calendar for the woman's game before. So as of twenty twenty six, you will see two distinct windows where in the front end of the year there will be internationals and that they will be regionally based. So what that means in New Zealand is packed for will we played in the front end of the year and then a global calendar will sit in September October, and so that really what that piece of work, and it's been a big piece of work and it's taken two years to get there, is to really solidify what those windows international windows are, so when you're creating domestic competitions, you can sit outside of those windows to make sure that all of your best players can actually be plating domestic rugby. So that will come into play in twenty twenty six. And now that we know that that that calendar is in place, it becomes a lot easier to put our domestic products in place. But it has taken, as I said, it has taken two years to get to that point. So really excited about what the future looks like from both international game and the domestic game.

It's pretty quick, all things said and done. When you look at the glacial pace world rugby works out In general, we're joined by the zell On Rugby's head of women's high Performance, Hannah Porter. You're ahead of the curve when it comes to the blokes game, no, aren't you. As far as an international program and schedules concern, that's going to take forever to walk out. It seems to me that women's is a lot more nimble. Is it a fair thing to say?

It's pretty quick, all things said and done. When you look at the glacial pace world rugby works out In general, we're joined by the zell On Rugby's head of women's high Performance, Hannah Porter. You're ahead of the curve when it comes to the blokes game, no, aren't you. As far as an international program and schedules concern, that's going to take forever to walk out. It seems to me that women's is a lot more nimble. Is it a fair thing to say?

Yeah, we're also a lot younger, So I think there's obviously a few things to unpack in the men's game that as soon as the game turned professional, if those kind of stepping stones were in place, it all becomes a little bit harder to unpack when you've got private investors in the game. So we certainly in that case, I think we're pretty lucky that we have got to this point where actually all the nations have worked together really well to get to international windows, which essentially means any female could play anywhere across the world in their domestic game, and if their laws allowed, it would allow them to go back and play international rugby as well. So that's a real positive. I think when you look at women's rugby at the moment, there's not the opportunity at the end of your career to go and live life in southern France on a not a bad look at as there is in the men's game. So again, providing opportunities for our ladies as they're playing throughout their careers that could be in another domestic competition around the world, I think is really important.

Yeah, we're also a lot younger, So I think there's obviously a few things to unpack in the men's game that as soon as the game turned professional, if those kind of stepping stones were in place, it all becomes a little bit harder to unpack when you've got private investors in the game. So we certainly in that case, I think we're pretty lucky that we have got to this point where actually all the nations have worked together really well to get to international windows, which essentially means any female could play anywhere across the world in their domestic game, and if their laws allowed, it would allow them to go back and play international rugby as well. So that's a real positive. I think when you look at women's rugby at the moment, there's not the opportunity at the end of your career to go and live life in southern France on a not a bad look at as there is in the men's game. So again, providing opportunities for our ladies as they're playing throughout their careers that could be in another domestic competition around the world, I think is really important.

And is this all bearing fruit when you look across the development of the women's game where it's come in the last more recently the last ten to fifteen years since it all started off. Is this proving to everybody that this is a way forward? Are you getting more people playing the game, are getting more advertisers interested? What do you look at? I hate the old phrase key performance indicators, but I will use it. How do you know this is working? And does that matter? Yeah?

And is this all bearing fruit when you look across the development of the women's game where it's come in the last more recently the last ten to fifteen years since it all started off. Is this proving to everybody that this is a way forward? Are you getting more people playing the game, are getting more advertisers interested? What do you look at? I hate the old phrase key performance indicators, but I will use it. How do you know this is working? And does that matter? Yeah?

It does matter. So probably the two things you would look at as registration numbers. And we've had some really great growth in the women's game and our registration numbers this year and not just not just at junior levels but also at senior women's club roby, which is really important. We still need more players playing the game in New Zealand, so that's really positive. And I think commercially there's still a little bit of work to be done in that space. We still need to engage with our fans, we need to engage with our commercial partners. And that'll be the true success when we can start generating revenue and putting that pack into the game. And obviously that would just grow the development system and the system underneath it and the community rugby game as that money flows down.

It does matter. So probably the two things you would look at as registration numbers. And we've had some really great growth in the women's game and our registration numbers this year and not just not just at junior levels but also at senior women's club roby, which is really important. We still need more players playing the game in New Zealand, so that's really positive. And I think commercially there's still a little bit of work to be done in that space. We still need to engage with our fans, we need to engage with our commercial partners. And that'll be the true success when we can start generating revenue and putting that pack into the game. And obviously that would just grow the development system and the system underneath it and the community rugby game as that money flows down.

Well, you've been, as I said, laid into it. Men's rugby has been around for a long time. Have you guys got a target as far as when you want this game to stand on its own two feet financially and be worth it. You can't expect to achieve that in the first couple of years. How much rope have you guys got?

Well, you've been, as I said, laid into it. Men's rugby has been around for a long time. Have you guys got a target as far as when you want this game to stand on its own two feet financially and be worth it. You can't expect to achieve that in the first couple of years. How much rope have you guys got?

Yeah, something that we're working with ends at our commercial on getting a really clear strategic plan around when we think that date would be. But you're right, it is going to take time to grow that out and it is I think you'll see across the world across women's sport at the moment, the likes of football and basketball that a couple of years ahead of us. And finally, I suppose getting bums on seats to watch games and being commercially viable for the clubs that are running the sport. So something that we're currently working through and look forward to having that strategic plan done in a dream world.

Yeah, something that we're working with ends at our commercial on getting a really clear strategic plan around when we think that date would be. But you're right, it is going to take time to grow that out and it is I think you'll see across the world across women's sport at the moment, the likes of football and basketball that a couple of years ahead of us. And finally, I suppose getting bums on seats to watch games and being commercially viable for the clubs that are running the sport. So something that we're currently working through and look forward to having that strategic plan done in a dream world.

What would you like to see happening in women's rugby in the next year or so? What needs to happen from a financial basis, from a participation basis. What do you really want, Hannah, I'd.

What would you like to see happening in women's rugby in the next year or so? What needs to happen from a financial basis, from a participation basis. What do you really want, Hannah, I'd.

Love to win another World Cup next year? Can I be as simple as that? No, Look, I think the continued growth. I think Super Rugby opek is going to be really excited. I look forward to the Black Ferns going into England and having a real good crack at that Rugby World Cup. That's going to be a tough one to win on English home soil. I look forward to the Sevens getting back into competition in the next couple of weeks, and community rugby is still pushing ahead with some strong numbers in the community game.

Love to win another World Cup next year? Can I be as simple as that? No, Look, I think the continued growth. I think Super Rugby opek is going to be really excited. I look forward to the Black Ferns going into England and having a real good crack at that Rugby World Cup. That's going to be a tough one to win on English home soil. I look forward to the Sevens getting back into competition in the next couple of weeks, and community rugby is still pushing ahead with some strong numbers in the community game.

Just going back to the community engagement, what's the biggest issue around getting people playing the game in the women's game? What's the roadblock there?

Just going back to the community engagement, what's the biggest issue around getting people playing the game in the women's game? What's the roadblock there?

I don't think there's actually initial getting people to play the game. We've got amazing junior numbers. The drop off for us, and I think it's similar in the men's game is in and around that secondary school participation. So a lot of our rugby for our junior girls at junior club rugby is the non contact version, ripper rugby. So it's how do we keep bringing ripper through. So there's a version of non contact rugby for those that want to stay in the non contact version, but how do we actually get a few more transitioning to playing tackle rugby and whether that be semons or fifteen's an area of a focus area that we've got for next year.

I don't think there's actually initial getting people to play the game. We've got amazing junior numbers. The drop off for us, and I think it's similar in the men's game is in and around that secondary school participation. So a lot of our rugby for our junior girls at junior club rugby is the non contact version, ripper rugby. So it's how do we keep bringing ripper through. So there's a version of non contact rugby for those that want to stay in the non contact version, but how do we actually get a few more transitioning to playing tackle rugby and whether that be semons or fifteen's an area of a focus area that we've got for next year.

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