Nine teams entered for start of women?s competition

Above: the last three Wellington women's championship winners, Oriental-Rongotai, Northern United and Wainuiomata. Will one of these three teams or one of the six other contenders win the major silverware this year?

The Wellington Women’s club rugby competition continues to grow, with nine teams entered for the start of the first round Fleurs Trophy this coming Saturday.

This is an increase of one from last year and three more than 2013. Johnsonville and Hutt Old Boys Marist are the two new squads, while the other changes in 2015 are Poneke going it alone and the absence of Stokes Valley.

Oriental-Rongotai and Northern United start as the competition favourites, with Ories looking to repeat last year’s Fleurs /Victoria Tavern Trophies double, while Wainuiomata, Old Boys-University, and Avalon also have contender claims.

This week’s first matches of the Fleurs Trophy (all 11.30am kick-offs) have Avalon hosting Johnsonville at Fraser Park, HOBM up against Norths on the Hutt Rec, OBU and Ories on Prince of Wales #2 (to be confirmed), and Wainuiomata face Tawa at Mary Crowther. Poneke have the first week bye. For more, visit Draws & Results across the top of this page and select Fleurs Trophy in the competition menu.

The Ories side will again be coached by Lui Aukuso and Sai Tuma'ai.?

Tuma'ai?accepts that Ories is the team to beat this year, but they won’t be resting on their laurels.

“Ories doesn’t just want to be a one-year wonder,” he said.

“We are not just going to sit on what we achieved last year. What we are looking at this year is trying to move up another level. Winning both competitions last year was good, but we are out there to defend the titles.

“We want to keep developing women’s rugby – and the only way to grow the profile is to maintain that standard on and off the field.”

Tuma'ai?said that the nucleus of the Ories team is back in 2015.

“We’ve mostly got the same players that we’ve had over the last few years and a few young ones that we’ve taken on board for this season.”

One notable player who they’ve lost is Wellington Pride fifteens and sevens utility back Kauna Loupa who is now living in Australia.

Another is Jane Bryce, who was the leading try scorer in the first round last year with 17 tries in seven matches and another eight in the second round before she broke her leg in the semi-final against OBU. Bryce is taking the year off.

Players that are back include 2014 Wellington Women’s Player of the Year Lizzie Goulden and young Pride players Timena Tuma'ai?and Amanda Rasch in the backs and most of the leading forwards, including captain Noleen Nonu and Joanah Ngan-Woo who scored a key try in last year’s final against Norths.

Last year’s championship win was the culmination of a three-year plan put in place by the club to develop and grow Ories women’s rugby.

It paid off in the first instance when they won the first round Fleurs Trophy, tipping over Norths 26-24 just two weeks into the season and going on to win all seven first round matches.

They then defeated Norths 33-24 at Porirua Park in the final, becoming the first city-based club to win the championship Victoria Tavern Trophy Wellington women’s title.

Ories even won the American Ambassador’s Sevens title, when Goulden sprinted away in extra time in the final against Norths.

Naturally, Norths are hungry to re-claim some women’s silverware in 2015.

They have new coaches this season, Matt Poutoa and Dawn Patelesio. Aimee Sutorius moves overseas to coach sevens

“The girls were disappointed that we couldn’t defend those titles last year, so will be doing the hard yards to try and win it this time round and it’s not going to be easy,” said Poutoa, who is also one of the assistant Coaches for the Wellington Pride this year.

Norths has lost a bit of experience this season, but still have good depth to call from within the Porirua region. “Ngarangi David and Tina Paulo join Phoenix Collins as college players to look out for this season.”

"Also young Jodeci Rere, whose attitude during pre-season training is a good example for young players. Jodeci comes in eager to learn and wanting to fight for that starting jersey. A few players come wanting to start from the get go but don’t realise that you have to earn your spot, that goes for everyone in our squad.”

Michaela Smith is a notable addition, coming from Otago. Injured players Sanita Levave and Leka Leti are among the players not returning until later in the season.

Helen Collins and Agnes Dean are the new co-captains. “The players voted on their captains for the season and this duo are experienced players."

Women’s competition last 15 winners

Fleurs Trophy (first round)

Year Club
2000 Northern United
2001 Avalon
2002 Wellington
2003 Northern United
2004 Northern United
2005 Northern United
2006 Northern United
2007 Avalon
2008 Johnsonville
2009 Northern United
2010 Northern United
2011 Eketahuna
2012 Northern United
2013 Northern United
2014 Oriental Rongotai

Victoria Tavern Trophy (second round)

Year Club
2000 Northern United
2001 Avalon
2002 Northern United
2003 Northern United
2004 Northern United
2005 Northern United
2006 Hutt Old Boys Marist
2007 Avalon
2008 Northern United
2009 Northern United
2010 Northern United
2011 Eketahuna
2012 Wainuiomata
2013 Northern United
2014 Oriental Rongotai