Whanganui Women’s Rugby preview
By Jared Smith
The first extended training session for the Chesters Plumbing & Bathroom Whanganui Women’s team went a little longer than coach Junior Nepia intended on Tuesday night.
It’s not that the coach found the players were taking longer to settle into their drills, it was rather at the end of the session, everyone just wanted to hang out and chat.
So building team spirit and culture will not be a problem as the women’s team prepares for their own slice of history – a shot at winning the inaugural Heartland representative trophy.
Rather than sporadic matches, Whanganui will take on five other representative teams from their fellow North Island unions, which will culminate in a finals day at Taupo’s Owen Delany Park on September 23rd.
After winning the WRFU Women’s Club title with Marist in June, Nepia named an initial squad of 22 to prepare of the competition, which has been increased to 24 after the initial meet-and-greet last Saturday, due to a couple of players having another commitment for at least one game during the round-robin, which starts August 19th.
Nepia has also confirmed interest of other players to be on standby in case of injuries and will train when required.
“We just talked about people that might not be available for games. I try to keep the team small for a couple of reasons.”
Nepia “didn’t want to sit people” in the squad without any expectation of getting game time, while he can focus on this core group to build up their systems – the squad already split into “mini teams” for preparation.
“Great balance across the park, a lot of attacking weapons – it’s just giving them the space and confidence, and have a great time.
“The team’s happy, a lot of smiles.”
Those came at the end of the training, because there were “a fair few colourful words” as Nepia and assistant coach Maze Koro worked on conditioning the squad members, who aside from the players involved in the Manawatu Development squad, have not had a proper blowout since June.
“They love it – they love what we’re trying to do.”
Also assisting coaching the forwards after being named in the squad is prop Lavenia Nauga-Grey, the 2019 Taranaki and 2020 Manawatu player, who has been out of rugby for nearly 12 months after being temporarily paralysed in the Whanganui vs Thames Valley game last year.
Part of the Marist club although she just watched the WRFU games, Nauga-Grey was this week confirming her clearance with NZR to resume playing.
“She’s been biding her time,” said Nepia.
“[During club rugby] we said, ‘we’d very much like to play you, but we owe it to everyone else in the team’.
“The girls love her.”
Other standouts are likely be Anahera Hamahona in the pack and Paris Munro out wide, fresh off their Manawatu Development games, while having plenty of experience in league and union, Lee Arna (Leez) Nepia will be a vital component in the backline.
Dominant in the pack or midfield, Kara Adrole will be juggling her netball commitments, which is why industrious flanker Samara Pahl-Long has joined the team, as did De-Ann Tyrell in the backline for when Keisha Campbell is unavailable.
Surnames like Adrole and Tyrell are very familiar in WRFU rugby circles, and there is another daughter of a former local great in forward Waimarie Rauhina.
Be it rugby or football, goal-kicking outside back Alice Ireton has a cult following all of her own.
Junior Nepia cannot wait for this inaugural Heartland competition, with Whanganui having three home games – one of them at Taihape’s Memorial Park to meet the long-travelling Poverty Bay, along with a trip to Masterton and a two-day excursion to Hauraki North.
The goal will be to be in the championship match at Taupo’s Owen Delany Park come September 23rd.
“That’s a massive incentive, we’ll try to target games.
“The union’s combined have done a good job. The [women’s] club comps from the other unions are great.”
The Whanganui team is –
Forwards: Anahera Hamahona (Marist), Atiria Thompson (Taihape), Bubba Taurua (Kaierau), Harmony Kinloch (Marton), Kara Adrole (Kaierau), Kim Hunt (Marist), Lavenia Nauga-Grey (Marist), Leigha Stormont (Kaierau), Mala Faumuina (Marist), Rebecca Manu (Marist), Trissina Hooper (Taihape), Waimarie Rauhina (Marist), Samara Pahl-Long (Kaierau).
Backs: Alice Ireton (Marist), Brooklyn Walker (Taihape), Georgia Adams (Taihape), Keisha Campbell (Marist), Leez Nepia (Kaierau), Paris Munro (Marist), Riana Tamati (Marist), Tayla Barrett (Taihape), Te Amorangi Karaitiana (Kaierau), Waimanawa Potaka-Osborne Whanarere (Marist), De-Ann Tyrell (Marist).
Heartland Fixtures –
August 19th: King Country, Cook Gardens
August 26th: Wairarapa Bush, Masterton
September 2nd: Poverty Bay, Memorial Park, Taihape
September 9th: Thames Valley, Waitakaruru Hauraki North
September 16th: East Coast, Cooks Gardens
September 23rd: Finals, Owen Delany Park, Taupo
