News

The Women’s club season begins on Saturday with the sport hoping to cash in on the huge interest the Black Ferns attracted at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand late last year and the growth it is experiencing.

In all, five local teams will take part in the Auckland club competition this year.

Pukekohe has entered a women’s team for the first time in well over a decade and they open their Premier campaign with a tough challenge against College Rifles at Colin Lawrie Fields.

The Pukekohe side has recruited strongly, with a number of Counties Energy Heat stars among their group but they will face an opponent that has the weight of years of recent success and a host of Super Rugby Aupiki talent to choose from.

Manurewa meanwhile begin their season – a year removed from being crowned the club champions of Auckland – with a tough home assignment against Grammar TEC at Mountfort Park.

Papakura will begin their season with a trip over the bridge to play North Shore at Vauxhall Sportsfields.

Patumahoe and newcomers Weymouth will all enter 10-a-side teams in the Auckland club competition this season – that competition kicks off in the coming weeks – but the two teams will be involved in a pre-season game at Patumahoe on Saturday.