NZ Women?s Rugby Invitational Tournament

Representative Rugby | 22 October 2014 | Club Rugby

The second annual New Zealand Women’s Rugby Invitational tournament (NZWRIT) was played last weekend in Hamilton, involving six teams from around the North Island including a Wellington Barbarians side (pictured above).

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The NZWRIT is an NZRU initiative to help grow the game at the next level, created for provincial union women's representative rugby teams who currently do not compete in the Women's Provincial Competition.

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Teams in this year’s competition included Auckland Samoa, BOP Development, Taranaki, Waikato Development, North Harbour and Wellington Barbarians. There were two Pools of three, with the top qualifier from each pool progressing to a straight final.

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The first ever Wellington Barbarians ?side comprised players from 2014 Club Champions Oriental-Rongotai, runners up Northern United and Old Boys University, as well as a bunch of young players. One of the main prerequisites for making the team was to be committed to each other and turn up to trainings. The team had been preparing for this competition for a few weeks, which also included a team fundraiser to help cover the costs.

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Wellington finished third, defeating Waikato Development 17-0 in their first game and losing to eventual champions Auckland Samoa 10-24 in their second, before beating Taranaki 22-0 in the playoff for third and fourth.

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The team was coached by Former Wellington Pride and Manu Sina pivot Dawn Patelesio and assisted by current Black Fern Sanita Levave. The pair enjoyed the new role as coaches. Dawn thought the team did well "One thing that was clear from the players’ feedback was that the team had no cliques, they all just got along. Most of the team had no experience at that sort of level, but all had talent to burn. We had them believing in what they can do. An experience made a lot easier because the amazing management team that we had and a team full of players that wanted to learn,” she said.

Dawn thought the tournament itself was a good initiative. "What a great tournament for the development of women’s rugby. Ladies that aren't normally given the opportunity were given a taste of it and for the young ones to be encouraged to keep dreaming big.”

She went on to comment on the tournament’s benefit for the upper north island rugby teams: " It would be awesome if Wellington could run a tournament like that, I can see now why teams up the line are so strong.”

It was a good experience for her as first time coach. "I’ve played for years it’s made me hungry to learn about the game and invest in the development of players".

NZRU Women's Rugby Development Officer Vania Wolfgramm is the creator of this event. One of her roles is to help facilitate and look at the development of Womens rugby within her assigned region ?(upper north island). ?She was happy to invite Wgtn to compete in this competition to help grow the game.

"It was great to see the Wellington Barbarians at the NZ Women's Rugby Invitational Tournament this year. ?The Wellington Barbarians were a very well drilled and structured team who showed some real flair and experience on the day. Inspired by Former Wellington Pride player Dawn Patelesio who coached the Wellington Barbarian side -when someone like Dawn who has been out of the game for a few years, and now is seen giving back to women's rugby in a coaching capacity, it is encouraging to see and most importantly, it is growing the women's game".

The team did lose a few players during the day through injury, including exciting young back Mikayla Figliola from Ories in the build-up to the first game.

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The team thanks Vania Wolfgramm for the invitation and X-Treme rugby wear for kitting out the team with a warmup and playing tops. Also to the family and friends who supported their fundraising efforts.

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Tries to Miriam Ready (Ories), Helen Collins and Mau Tavita (Norths).

Conversion from Brenda Collins (Norths)

Tries to Moana Solia (OBU) & Helen Collins

Wellington Barbarians 22-0 Taranaki

Tries to Helen and Tiana Collins (Norths), Ake Pereira and Jasmin Upton

Conversion: Patsy Schwalger

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Auckland Samoa 14 – Bay of Plenty Development 1