Super Rugby Women's Competition
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i guess the obvious choice when the other teams are colours like Blue or Yellow is Red...but they didn;t want to be like the crusaders, so i appreciate the thought....but i dont know why they didn't go with a South African or Irish type green
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HURRICANES UNVEIL NEW NAME FOR HURRICANES WOMEN'S TEAM
The Hurricanes have unveiled the new name of their inaugural women’s team –– Hurricanes Poua.
The new team identity was developed in collaboration between Te Āti Awa (mana whenua) and a working group that included NZR Māori Cultural Advisor, Luke Crawford; rugby legend, Dr Farah Palmer; Hurricanes Poua Head Coach, Wes Clarke; Assistant Coach, Victoria Grant; CEO, Avan Lee; Cultural Advisor and Mindset Coach, Luke Rowe; former Black Ferns, Marina Canterbury, Julie Ferguson, Erin Rush, Sosoli Talawadua and Izzy Ford (Porirua Deputy Mayor); Hurricanes Poua players, Selica Winiata, Sarah Hirini and Jax Patea-Fereti; and Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby CEO, Cushla Tangaere Manuel.
By drawing from already existing pūrākau (Māori narratives), the team’s identity and connection to both the Hurricanes region and their people (past and present), happened naturally.
The name Poua derives from the pūrākau of Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earthmother).
In this story, Huru-tea-a-rangi, female atua of winds, played a pivotal role in assisting Tāne (the progenitor of humankind) to bring light into the world, by gifting him four of her children in the form of pou (pillars) known as ngā hau e whā (the four winds). Tāne then positioned these four pou in the four corners of the sky allowing light to emerge.
As a verb, Poua means to establish, to position, to elevate and lift high, to plant firmly, to appoint and/or to anoint.
As a noun, Poua means pillar, upright, support, goalpost, sustenance and support, stalwart, mentor.
“The narrative of Poua is appropriate for our Club on many levels,” said Hurricanes Cultural Advisor and Mindset Coach, Luke Rowe.
“Firstly, it speaks to the early challenges of women in rugby and the many sacrifices experienced to achieve ‘light’. It highlights a whakapapa (genealogy) between Huru-tea-a-rangi and Tāwhirimātea from which the existing Hurricanes brand connects to. So, there is a clear link between the two premier Hurricanes teams."
“The reference to ngā hau e whā symbolises the vast Hurricanes region [Wellington, Horowhenua-Kāpiti, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Whanganui, Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay, East Coast] and also the cultural diversity of our players,” said Rowe.
“Coincidentally, it also compliments the Super Rugby Aupiki name with Tāne’s ascension to the heavens (Aupiki), smartly reminding us of the importance of wāhine (the gift of the four pou) in the acquisition of goals and aspirations.”
“Diversity is also recognised throughout the many layers of Poua with the word pou found across Pasifika with similar meanings. The diversity extends further into the physical make up of players in rugby: Pou mua (forwards) and pou muri (backs) as rugby is one of the very few sporting codes in the professional era that still allows for players of all shapes and sizes to participate in.”
Poua is a unique term to the people of Te Āti Awa. It is used in the inaugural Hurricanes Haka to commemorate the relationship between the Hurricanes and mana whenua.“The primary input into the Hurricanes Poua team name has come from wāhine associated with the club and some players within the team.”
“This process also included engaging a number of iwi experts across the Hurricanes Poua catchment area. The name Poua and its association to ngā hau e whā (the 4 Winds) brings an added impetus to the tempest that is the Hurricanes franchise.”
Several brands have already signed on as founding partners of Hurricanes Poua, including National Storage, Bachcare, 2Degrees, Elevit, DSV and ASB.Hurricanes Poua identity developed in collaboration with:
Mana Whenua – Te Āti Awa
Leadership Group – Selica Winiata, Sarah Hirini and Jax Patea-Fereti
Working Group – Izzy Ford, Erin Rush, Sosoli Talawadua, Julie Ferguson, Marina Canterbury, Selica Winiata and Cushla Tangaere Manuel
Reference Group – Wes Clarke, Dr Farah Palmer, Victoria Grant, Tony Philp, Avan Lee, Luke Rowe and Luke Crawford
https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-unveil-new-name-for-hurricanes-womens-team-1/ -
@stargazer Are they going to devote as much resource into teaching the players how to catch pass, tackle and, especially, how to kick the ball properly as they have put into the naming of the team process? And no doubt this press release was written by some outside PR Agency it is so unrugby like.
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Moving to Taupo! 3 games each, then a final
New Zealand Rugby to relocate Sky Super Rugby Aupiki teams to Taupō
• Four Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads to move into bubbles in Taupō
• Competition will move to a tournament format, played over two and a half weeks
• Matches to be played at Owen Delany Park and FMG Stadium WaikatoNew Zealand Rugby (NZR) has made the decision to relocate the four Sky Super Rugby Aupiki squads to Taupō to ensure the inaugural season of the competition can take place.
The competition will be played in a condensed format with matches being played on Saturday 5 March, Thursday 10 March, Tuesday 15 March with the Final on Sunday 20 March.
NZR General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum said NZR has consulted with the NZRPA and Clubs, coming to the consensus that this was the best option to see the inaugural competition progress.
“We are 100% committed to seeing this competition go ahead and under the current COVID-19 regulations, this is the best option to see that happen. We appreciate the commitment that is required from our players and management staff to relocate for this period of time and are working closely with the clubs to work through this process,” said Lendrum.
The Blues, Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua will drive to Taupō next week, while Matatū will travel via charter plane.
The squads will operate in separate bubbles with exclusive use of training facilities in the Taupō area. The opening round matches and Final will be played at Taupō’s Owen Delany Park, with the two mid-week evening rounds hosted at FMG Stadium Waikato.
The first three rounds will all be played as double-headers, all matches broadcast on Sky and Prime, and played without crowds at the red level of the traffic light settings.
Teams will stay across four hotels and will utilise the same COVID-19 protocols currently being implemented for DHL Super Rugby Pacific. Players will remain in their team bubbles at all times and be subject to regular rapid antigen tests.
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@bovidae said in Super Rugby Women's Competition:
Better to put that in the Women's SR thread.
It's only about 1:40 h to drive from Taupo to Hamilton so not a big deal. Squad depth will be important with the short turnaround between games.
Ah crap, you're right thanks
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I thought that the Chiefs had already named their captain, but obviously not. No surprise.
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/waitomo-chiefs-manawa-captain-announced
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In no huge surprise, with 2% of the pop with confirmed covid, much higher in AKL
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Delayed 1 week, no final now (decided on competition points). Even less of a competition than before.
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki match days
Saturday 5 March - Owen Delany Park, Taupō - Game of three halves - Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua v Matatū
Thursday 10 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Tuesday 15 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Sunday 20 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, HamiltonDraw and kick off times will be announced in due course.
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@higgins said in Super Rugby Women's Competition:
Hopefully the top bit is actually a removable lid so that you can fill it with copious amounts of refreshments to toast your winning of the trophy.
shit i would love for it to be some secret that the head comes off and get filled with booze, never comes out officially...only the winners know
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@bovidae said in Super Rugby Women's Competition:
Delayed 1 week, no final now (decided on competition points). Even less of a competition than before.
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki match days
Saturday 5 March - Owen Delany Park, Taupō - Game of three halves - Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua v Matatū
Thursday 10 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Tuesday 15 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Sunday 20 March – FMG Stadium Waikato, HamiltonDraw and kick off times will be announced in due course.
Jesus, really helping our ladies for the RWC
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@machpants said in Super Rugby Women's Competition:
Jesus, really helping our ladies for the RWC
It certainly doesn't help but I think that the teams were involved in the decision. The problem is that the majority of the players aren't professionals so have to take time off work/study. Therefore the window to play this comp was short. At least 6 players will have children with them in Taupo.
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@donsteppa said in Super Rugby Women's Competition:
I suppose we can always count on the NZRU to make a bad situation worse…
They only just declared that they would do everything they could to make this comp happen, now it is more of a joke and doesn't fulfil any of its aims.
Firstly the pathway and development aspect wasn't supported. No wider training groups or inclusion/exposure for those 'bubbling under'. The tournament style set up was a good idea to save the comp but what they are now doing is pathetic.
Women's rugby has the right to be highly pissed off here. -
And yet another change:
Due to covid-19 isolation requirements Hurricanes Poua have been forced to withdraw from the game of three halves this weekend.
Chiefs Manawa and Matatū will still take the field in a pre-season fixture. The match will be played at Owen Delany Park, kicking off at 2.15pm. -
If the Chiefs are going to win this competition it will be in spite of the coaching. There appeared to only be one tactic - spread the ball wide. When you take quick taps inside the opposition half because you don't trust your lineout, you have problems that need to be worked on (i.e., coaching).
