Hibiscus to Black Ferns Tournament Huge success!

What a day of celebration and appreciation of Women’s Rugby at QBE stadium on Wednesday. Congratulations to all involved in making the day a huge success! In the tournament we had female rippa players, 7’s players, referees, coaches, ball girls and of course fans.

From 11.20am to 2.00pm we had year 3/4, year 5/6 and intermediate Rippa along with U15’s Sevens on display showing a small snippet of our Harbour rugby pathway. The quality of rugby and the skills on display were impressive as the excitement built for the main event. Each team was lucky enough to experience what it is like playing out on the main field of QBE stadium. With teams setting up base in the grandstand for the day there was a huge buzz around the stadium from start to finish. Non striped Black Ferns made a special visit to the tournament to hand out QBE and Milo balls to our lucky competitors. Young fans arms were covered in signatures from the players and I hear they proudly showed them off to their friends at school the next day.

With games being played in the centre of QBE stadium while the Black Ferns and Wallaroos warmed up, the girl’s excitement grew. While the National teams were warming up on field, all 15 school teams paraded around the field carrying signs and banners of support for the Black Ferns. As they got close to the Black Ferns huddle under the post, 160 rugby girls started chanting “Black Ferns, Black Ferns”. It was great for the Black Ferns to see and hear the support they have from the girls in the Harbour region.

The four year 3/4 Rippa teams got the lucky opportunity to run out hand in hand with the two teams and stand in front of them during the national anthems. While they waited in the tunnel, they could barely contain their excitement as the high fived every person who walked through. These girls proudly sung the national anthem with our national team who these girls now aspire to be like. With the anthems done and the challenge set through the haka, the ball was run out by Isla Wigglesworth from the Torbay Lions. The game kicked off and the fans took a seat to watch their idols play the game they all love.

The Black Ferns put on another solid performance against the Wallaroos winning 29-3 retaining the Laurie O’Reilly Memorial Trophy.  Good luck to the Black Ferns for their upcoming end of year tour, Harbour is right behind you!