Monique Kloeg scoring for Wai-Bush against a Manawatu Development side. PHOTO/FILE
RUGBY
CHRIS COGDALE
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Not since Eketahuna in the early 2010s decade have Wairarapa-Bush had a women’s club rugby team play in a regular club competition.
That will change today when the Wairarapa Wahine Toa run on to Trust House Memorial Park to take on Old Boys Marist women’s team in the Manawatu championship.
The formation of the team continues the resurgence of women’s rugby in the province and follows on from two representative fixtures played against Whanganui and the Manawatu Development side in 2021.
The Toa have an experienced coach in Wai-Bush JAB and women’s development officer Scott Collins, who helped re-establish women’s rugby in Northland and turned the province’s Farah Palmer Cup team into a competitive unit.
Former Dutch international tight forward Annemieke van Vliet, a Kuranui College teacher, lock Monique Kloeg, halfback Darian Walker, and talented young flanker Xanthe Somerville have represented Wai-Bush in recent years.
Otherwise, the side draws on secondary school players and several rookies.
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Collins has no expectations on how the team will perform in the seven-team competition, which is played over 10 weeks, finishing in late June.
“[We want to] get out there, get involved and enjoy what we’re doing,” Collins said.
“If we win a few games, it would be great, but it’s more about the process and players getting better.”
The seven teams will play a full round-robin before splitting into a top three and bottom four for a shortened second round and then playoffs.
Kick-off is at 1pm today at Trust House Memorial Park.
