Super Rugby Aupiki 2023
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Correction: Grace Steinmetz is named as Outside Back and Grace Brooker is named as Midfield
Eight new players with five earning their first ever Super Rugby contract – here’s your Matatū squad for Super Rugby Aupiki 2023.
Alana Bremner retains her captaincy for the season, building off her experience in Aupiki 2022 and more recently as part of the Rugby World Cup 2021 winning Black Ferns.
Cheyelle Robins-Reti is an exciting signing previously contracted to Hurricanes Poua. She joins Matatū as an outside back but is comfortable across the pack. Her speed and finishing ability is exciting, as is her experience at international level having played for the Black Ferns.
Georgia Cormick played some foundational seasons with the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby W, having moved to Australian as a child. She’s back in Otago playing FPC for the Spirit and now kicks off her Aupiki career with Matatū.
Crossing the ditch to play is Sera Naiquama, joining the South Island squad with prowess and international experience. The current Wallaroo and NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby W) faced the Black Ferns in the Rugby World Cup opener only weeks ago, getting a taste of what women’s rugby is like in Aotearoa.
Cindy Nelles is currently lock for Canterbury in the FPC and this will be her first season playing in Super Rugby Aupiki. Originally from Canada, she earned 19 caps for her national team, including appearances at the 2014 and 2017 Rugby World Cups.
Charntay Poko earns her first Super Rugby Aupiki contract with her signing to Matatū. She’s a capable cross-code player entering the squad in the mid-field after a rugby union season with Canterbury. The 26-year-old played rugby league for the NZ Warriors in 2019 and the New Zealand national team the same year, and the Newcastle Knights in 2021.
Cheyenne Cunningham and Leah Miles join the squad from Otago, both earning their first Super Rugby Aupiki contract. -
Twelve fresh faces and a wealth of Black Ferns experience headline the nib Blues women Super Rugby Aupiki squad for the upcoming 2023 season.
Black Ferns Captain and World Rugby Player of the Year, Ruahei Demant, will be playing alongside her sister, Kiritapu Demant, a former Black Ferns player who in recent years has returned to top level rugby after a break from the game in 2018.Following on from their World Cup success, fans will be familiar with Black Ferns Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Charmaine McMenamin, Sylvia Brunt and Ariana Bayler who form the experienced core of the nib Blues squad.
A new face of note is Northland eighteen-year-old, Tara Turner, who joins the nib Blues off the back of a strong Farah Palmer Cup campaign. Turner has also come through the Tania Dalton Foundation programme that recognises and supports promising talent in the sporting arena.
Katelyn Vahaakolo joins the squad after representing the Kiwi Ferns at the Rugby League World Cup while seasoned campaigner Eloise Blackwell returns for her second Aupiki campaign bringing a wealth of experience and grit to the forward pack.“While Ariana joins us from down the road, a key focus for this squad was to invest in players from our Blues region and to ensure we are growing and nurturing the talent from within.
“It’s great to have the likes of Tara Turner from Northland and Holly Williams from North Harbour as examples of this regional growth and development.https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/nib-blues-womens-squad
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Maia Joseph not in any of the squads I see. McCormick joining Otago probably lessened her chances to show out in FPC and Hapi-Wise has come into Manawa off the back of a FPC debut year with little game time which is surprising. Investing locally I guess.
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Maia Joseph not in any of the squads I see. McCormick joining Otago probably lessened her chances to show out in FPC and Hapi-Wise has come into Manawa off the back of a FPC debut year with little game time which is surprising. Investing locally I guess.
@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.
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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.
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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.
@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.
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@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.
@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.
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@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 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.
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@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.
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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
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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.
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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.
@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.
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@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.
@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.
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@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.
@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. -
@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. -
@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.
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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. -
