Super Rugby Aupiki 2023

Bovidae

@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

Maia Joseph not in any of the squads I see.

I wondered about her, so did a quick google earlier. Joseph did her ACL/MCL in August, therefore a long recovery ahead. Laban is picking her to make the BFs next year.

I don't remember seeing much of Hapi-Wise as Reese Anderson usually played halfback.

Stargazer

Very disappointed no squad has picked up Hawke's Bay's Amelia Pasikala and Jaimee Robin. Excellent, strong midfielders. Pasikala has future Black Fern written all over her, but that won't happen if she doesn't get an opportunity to play at SR Aupiki level. Kathleen Brown not picked either.

Crucial

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

Very disappointed no squad has picked up Hawke's Bay's Amelia Pasikala and Jaimee Robin. Excellent, strong midfielders. Pasikala has future Black Fern written all over her, but that won't happen if she doesn't get an opportunity to play at SR Aupiki level. Kathleen Brown not picked either.

These squads (well Chiefs and Blues especially) show a tendency to go local which, if it continues, will cut down opportunities for non franchise are players and HB Women will end up like HB men, ignored by the Wellington base.
The short comp doesn't help as I think that some of the thinking around picking local eg Hapi-Wise is the advantage in getting to trainings etc.

I hadn't realised Joseph had done her knee. That's a bit shit for her. Laban is off the mark by a long way. She needs more strength and play at levels higher than Championship FPC to make the BFs.

Crucial

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

Maia Joseph not in any of the squads I see.

I wondered about her, so did a quick google earlier. Joseph did her ACL/MCL in August, therefore a long recovery ahead. Laban is picking her to make the BFs next year.

I don't remember seeing much of Hapi-Wise as Reese Anderson usually played halfback.

Yeah. I think she got very few minutes. She's not young in the scheme of things and was probably best available in the area. BoP didn't really have a decent halfback at all this year.

Bovidae

@Crucial said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

These squads (well Chiefs and Blues especially) show a tendency to go local

The Chiefs squad has 6 players from outside the area, including 4 from Wellington. They've also lost 5 players who have played for the BFs to other teams, including 4 current BFs.

Also, the Poua have 3 players to add to their squad.

Crucial

@Bovidae probably didn’t explain the point well. They have gone local in filling out the squad past the recruitment for the “better” players. The ones least likely to get gametime or the rookies. Wellington similar.

Stargazer

It looks like the Chiefs Manawa are going to play in more traditional Chiefs colours, in 2023.

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/both-teams-to-play-in-the-same-jersey-in-2023

Auckman 0

I’m disappointed the 7s stars aren’t going to be there. Marketing opportunity lost to really promote Aupiki to get the crowds and tv audience in so that some major sponsors can get on board for 2024-2025.

The Blues - excited that Vahaakolo is there. Her and Brunt will provide some serious strike power with Demant there. Unfortunately Fitzpatrick isn’t there (7s duty) which is a downer. Our tight-forwards are probably the weakest of the SRA teams with only old veteran Blackwell in there (Charmaine Smith moving to the Chiefs). Loose forwards are ok with Mikaele-Tuu there alongside McMenamin. Hopefully some of the young newbies step up.

Yeetyaah

@Auckman-0 said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

I’m disappointed the 7s stars aren’t going to be there. Marketing opportunity lost to really promote Aupiki to get the crowds and tv audience in so that some major sponsors can get on board for 2024-2025.

Likewise but it's up to them. From what I've heard Ruby has been given time to think it over. Fluhler is still listed as a centre in the Manawa section on the Chiefs website.

Crucial

The BF Sevens would need a major rebuild without those players although one is needed soon anyway. I guess it depends on where they stand in their life/career balance.

Bovidae

@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

Likewise but it's up to them. From what I've heard Ruby has been given time to think it over. Fluhler is still listed as a centre in the Manawa section on the Chiefs website.

Bayler is listed too, and she will be playing for the Blues.

Dan54

@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

@Auckman-0 said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2023:

I’m disappointed the 7s stars aren’t going to be there. Marketing opportunity lost to really promote Aupiki to get the crowds and tv audience in so that some major sponsors can get on board for 2024-2025.

Likewise but it's up to them. From what I've heard Ruby has been given time to think it over. Fluhler is still listed as a centre in the Manawa section on the Chiefs website.

Guess money comes into it too, more money in 7s than super for women?
Shame , but there not much can be done I suppose. A lot will depend on what they can get from TV etc to show the matches?
Would be great if even a few big 7 names stayed, but we still see the likes of Demant, Fitzpatrick , who hopefully are recognised enough to be drawcards.

Bovidae

@Dan54 Fitzpatrick is also a sevens player.

The BF7s players already had existing contracts so weren't included amongst the 29 BF contracted players list. I would imagine the sevens contracts are comparable.

Dan54

@Bovidae Cheers didn't really know how it worked as I was very much someone who took very little notice of women's rugby earlier, much to shame really.

Crucial

Like most playing contracts there are retainers, assembly fees and playing fees.
The more you play the more you get paid.
The retainers aren’t that big but if you consistently play in World Series Sevens you can considerably increase that.
The rules around external sponsors or marketing payments are probably similar to the men. In the ABs the branded ones eg Weetbix with the ABs are handed out depending on contract but you get x number of opportunities to do sponsor events etc.
then you can also do non team work as well as long as you aren’t in kit so that depends on being recognisable.

Stargazer

THE KING IS BACK! — Blues Rugby

Former Blues superstar and fan favourite, Carlos Spencer, is back where he made a name for himself - signing on as the nib Blues women’s Backs Coach for Super Rugby Aupiki 2023. Spencer, a member of the inaugural Blues side from 1996 played 99 times in nine seasons for the club and said he is “beyo