Female rugby players have a “place to call home” in Hauraki North, with trainings a family affair as the women gear up for a more challenging premiership competition.
Paeroa farmer Kaz White, who spoke to The Profile just two weeks after having her second daughter, Maeve, is one of the Thames Valley Vixens players now training at Hauraki North, as part of their new Diamonds squad.
As a lock, she’s unsure whether she’ll be ready for the grind come the start of the season in April, but she’s been attending trainings and supporting from the sidelines – with her little one, which she welcomed by caesarean, in tow.
“At Hauraki North, we actually have a clubroom now, so the kids play together, run around, and it’s a cool atmosphere,” she said.
Establishing the Diamonds stemmed from the success of the Vixens and a Whangamatā sevens tournament held in November last year.
Hauraki North approached the Valley and asked if they’d be interested in fielding a women’s team, based out of the Waitakaruru club.
Kaz said it was an amazing opportunity to get some game time ahead of the Vixens’ Heartland contention, which kicks off later this year.
Hauraki North had also been “so supportive”, she said.
“They took us through the training runs and asked us what they would need to change, to make it better there for women,” Kaz said.
“We said just little things like sanitary boxes – that was something we found was quite hard last year. There was never anything like that in any of the changing rooms, because, like any rugby club, it’s just been men.
“It was awesome for them to ask us,” she said. “They took us through and said they’d be putting in a few more showers, maybe another individual toilet because again, in the changing rooms, it’s all urinals.”
Kaz said some of the girls also requested a mirror be installed in the bathroom.
“And they said: ‘We’ve never thought of that but yup, we’ll do it. So it has been amazing.”
Kaz, 29, had never played rugby before starting with the Vixens in 2022.
At the first training she attended, there were just three players, but the club has since gone from strength to strength.
At a recent Hauraki North training, 30 girls turned up.
Coach Brendan Clark said this time last year, they were averaging about six players per training.
“Hauraki North has gone above and beyond to support the girls which has been really cool to see; to have the clubrooms and a place to call home,” he said.
“They open up the bar and have a barbecue most Wednesdays, so that’s probably a big reason why a bunch of the girls are sticking around, because they’ve got a community there and that’s something we lacked last year.”
Brendan said it was nice to have Hauraki North “chasing the girls” for the Waikato Women’s Premier Competition – the first game for the Diamonds being against Taupiri on April 15 – as opposed “to us all trying to rally to get support”.
“I think the girls feel pretty cared for and that is a good start.”
Brendan said the simple things – like mirrors and showers – all contributed to creating a stronger rugby community.
“You’ve all of a sudden got guys who have their partners now playing at the club, or vice versa – the girls come down and their partners have joined the men’s team.
“There are kids running around most trainings and Hauraki North was already a pretty big club in the Valley and had a family reputation, and now they’ve gone out of their way to make the girls comfortable, and they feel like they belong.”
DETAILS: To follow the journey or to be a part of it, find Hauraki North Rugby Club on Facebook or email: haurakinorth@hotmail.com
BY KELLEY TANTAU
