Expanded Women?s competition kicking off on Saturday

Above: Wainuiomata (2012) and Norths (2013) are the recent winners of the Women's club championship Victoria Tavern Trophy. Who will take the spoils this season?

Wellington's Women's Premier competition has been given a boost this season with the introduction of two new teams to increase the teams from six to eight.

New teams confirmed to line up this Saturday for the opening week of the first round Fleurs Trophy are Tawa and Stokes Valley, while it is understood that former champions Johnsonville also recently came close to forming a side. Poneke and Marist St. Pat's will again field a combined team, meaning nine clubs will be represented in the 2014 women's competition.

This boost in sides not only adds another match to the weekly fixtures list, but provides the opportunity for up to 50 more females playing competitive senior rugby each week.

This is a reflection of the great work being done to promote the women's game in Wellington. Women's Sevens rugby is also healthy, with the club Sevens circuit providing clear pathways to higher honours. Avalon fullback Katarina Simpkins played for the NZ Sevens team in China last week, while the Norths club team is set to compete in the Central Coast Sevens in Australia in October.

Following the success of their men's teams last year, Tawa have launched a women's side this year. Tawa's coaches are Jason Holtham and Roy Chong-Nee. Holtham said the club's excited about joining the women's competition for the first time in about 20 years.

?"The newly formed Tawa women's team has been a passion of a couple of ladies that have been part of Tawa as partners of players and former Tawa College students," Holtham said. "Three months ago they put out the feelers to see who would be interested and now with a solid base of 35 girls they are ready for the season.

?"With just a handful of girls having played before it was always going to be challenging, but with awesome help from the Premier men's players, Lesley McKenzie the WRFU Schoolgirls Coordinator, and the two new coaches, the girls are ready for the season."

At the other end of the spectrum- and based just up the road from Tawa - is defending champions and Wellington women's powerhouse club Nothern United.

After suffering defeat to Wainuiomata in the 2012 final, Norths bounced back last year to win both XVs competitions. They scored 248 points and conceded just 13 in winning all five first round matches in the Fleurs Trophy. They then went on to beat Ories 18-5 in the final of the second round Victoria Tavern Trophy in July front of a bumper home crowd at Porirua Park.

Norths will be coached by Matt Poutoa and long-serving Norths and Wellington Pride flanker Aimee Sutorius - who will remain as a player as and when needed. Wellington Pride and recent Black Ferns prop Moana Aiatu will again captain Norths.

Poutoa said Norths are building towards another big season.

"The team has put in a lot of hard work during the off-season, which will make up for having only one pre- season game. But with the majority of last year's squad still intact, they should have enough experience to overcome a slow starting campaign.

"A good mix of ‘old heads' and newcomers to the team makes for an exciting year. With a number of girls looking to be involved in this year's Rugby World Cup, the challenge will be maintaining their standards while they are away at training camps."

The Women's World Cup is being held in France from 1-17 August.

"Norths welcomes the addition of local college girls, who are ready to make the step up and join the team. The club's future looks promising."

Ories finished second to Norths in both XVs competitions last year and with a largely settled squad and several new players they should be strong again.

Ories are coached by Lui Aukuso and Sai Tumaai. Wellingon Pride players Lizzie Goulden and Noeleen Nonu are co-captains.

Norths play Wainuiomata and Ories square off against OBU as part of this Saturday's season opener.

A combined MSP-Poneke Women's team was started up last year and will look to build on their introductory season, which saw a lot of players new to the game from other codes. The coaches and management have been able to plan much better for this season and have been able to put the structures in place to better prepare for season two.

Of note is the departure of their highly respected women's coach mere Wilson Tuala fata. She was involved from the beginning of MSP women's rugby and has been behind women's rugby in the eastern suburbs for so many years that her presence on and off the field will be missed.

MSP-Poneke is coached by Gary Archer, with assistance from the Moananu brothers, Paluni and Luni and Mui Liumaihetau as the technical advisor. Trisha Kalolo-Apolinario is the captain and Sonja Taege is the vice-captain.

Avalon could be a mover this year. They won just three from 10 games last season, but look out for the re-building being done across the board at Fraser Park HQ to also have positive effects on the women's team.

Stokes Valley joins Avalon and Wainuiomata as the third Hutt Valley club in this year's women's competition.

OBU's team this year will have an international flavour to it, with several confirmed players from France, the USA and Canada in their squad and one-two others unconfirmed from Ireland and Tonga - all available for at least part of the season at least. Added to this list are a couple of new players and university students from elsewhere in New Zealand.

These gains are offset by a few losses, most notably veteran OBU and Wellington Pride hooker Claire Rowat who is currently overseas

Last year's beaten semi-finalists OBU will be captained by Gina Williamson and coached by Gary Hilsdon.

2012 Victoria Tavern champions W.O.W (WainuiOmata Women), will also field a mix of youth and experience in their squad. Wainuiomata High School and Sacred Heart College continue to feed the club, with with Brooke Tauaneai, Davina Lasini, Abigail Riini and Ashleigh Bryan joining from school.

Marina Soloa and Suzanne Yee return from the 2012 squad, and Maria Hunt joins a mobile forward pack that features Black Fern Jackie Patea, Moni Faaifo, Kiri Mei, and Hutt Valley High leaver Rosie Stirling in her second year with the program. ?

In the losses column, Marama Tauroa will be attempting to retire again and MaryAnn Collins moves to Norths for the season to get game minutes alongside Manusina teammates in a World Cup year.?

?Like the Men's Swindale Shield, all teams will play each other once in a round-robin series to decide the first round Women's Fleurs Trophy winner. This is then followed by the second round Victoria Tavern Trophy competition, with semi-finals and a final at the end.

Dates and venues for the season have yet to be confirmed, but to view the draw for this weekend's opening round visit the Draws & Results menu across the top of this page or go to: http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=8&season=9&round=1

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