2014 Media Guide

HEADER TEXT 2014 MEDIA GUIDE INFO | DRAW | RULES | TEAMS | CONTACTS i go back to the start CONTENTS Welcome from New Zealand Rugby �� 2 Media Information �� 3 COMPETITION INFORMATION Competition Information�� 4 Draw �� 5 Match Officials �� 7 Women’s Provincial Championship Regulations �� 8 RECORDS AND RESULTS Past Winners ��13 2013 Standings��14 Records ��15 TEAM INFORMATION Auckland ��17 Bay of Plenty ��22 Canterbury ��26 Counties Manukau ��31 Hawke’s Bay ��36 Manawatu ��41 Otago ��46 Waikato ��51 Wellington ��56 Published by New Zealand Rugby New Zealand Rugby House | 100 Molesworth Street | Wellington www�itmcup�co�nz Images: Getty Images, Photosport Copyright © NZR, 2014 Content may be reproduced for editorial purposes only 1 go back to the start MESSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND RUGBY On behalf of New Zealand Rugby, I am delighted to welcome you to the Women’s Provincial Championship in 2014. New Zealand rugby gets its strength from provincial rugby and it is heartening to see this competition expanding yet again in 2014, with nine teams in action. There were seven teams in 2012, eight in 2013 and nine this year – Bay of Plenty have signed up for the first time since 2005 while Hawke’s Bay have returned to the WPC after missing the 2013 season. It’s great to see more women playing at the first class level and to see some of New Zealand’s classic provincial rivalries continued in this arena. We’re looking forward to seeing more of the exciting, fast-paced rugby that has come to characterise the women’s game as well as the up-and-coming talent footing it alongside the stars of our national teams. 2014 has been a big year for women’s rugby. While the Black Ferns did not extend their Women’s Rugby World Cup run in France, four strong performances by that team in the International Women’s Rugby Series and the Women’s Sevens team securing their second consecutive World Series trophy provide cause for optimism and a strong platform for the future. Meanwhile New Zealand’s female referees are also cementing their places on the international stage and it will be great to see the Womens Referee Squad in action during the WPC. Auckland claimed their sixth title in a row in 2013, having won every tournament except one (in 2006 they went down to Wellington in the Final) since the official women’s provincial competition kicked off in 1999. However, the Storm’s loss to Otago meant that the JJ Stewart trophy left the cabinet for the first time since 1995, re-igniting interest in the women’s rugby equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield and we look forward to seeing the trophy on the line again when current holders Canterbury defend it in the second round. I would like to thank the media for their commitment to the Women’s Provincial Championship and for sharing the great stories of this competition. We’re looking forward to catching eight games and the Final on SKY during the season and hope that coverage will inspire and motivate players and supporters around the country. No matter which team you support or where you’re supporting them from, I hope that you enjoy the rugby. Best wishes, Ian MacRae, New Zealand Rugby President go back to the start MEDIA INFORMATION NEW ZEALAND RUGBY CONTACTS JULI CLAUSEN Senior Media Advisor M: 027 570 7045 E: [email protected] To receive New Zealand media releases and update your details: HILARY SUTHERLAND Public Affairs Executive Assistant E: [email protected] Match Officials details will be provided regularly throughout the Women’s Provincial Championship via media advisory – if you are not on the New Zealand Rugby media distribution list please contact Hilary Sutherland. Provincial Unions are required to announce publicly their playing 22 at least 48 hours prior to kickoff. Judicial hearings will generally be held by video conference early in the week following the match� Media will be advised of any citings and details of any hearings as they are confirmed. Details for the Final will be confirmed via media release. Information in this Women’s Provincial Championship Media Guide is provided as at time of publication (15 August 2014 unless otherwise specified). Squads are subject to change and the Provincial Union should be contacted in the first instance for the current squad at any time Official results will be distributed in the week following the weekend’s matches. For the latest news and results throughout the season, visit www.allblacks.com or www.itmcup.co.nz. An electronic edition of this guide will be available in the allblacks.com Media Centre at www.allblacks.com/ mediacentre� 3 go back to the start COMPETITION INFORMATION The Women’s Provincial Championship will consist of a Round Robin with all teams playing in a single pool, followed by a Final. The two Provincial Unions with the highest number of competition points at the completion of the Round Robin will proceed to the Final, and be ranked as follows: • The Provincial Union with the highest number of competition points at the completion of the Round Robin will have a finals ranking of 1� • The Provincial Union with the next-highest number of competition points at the completion of the Round Robin will be ranked 2� Based on the Finals Rankings the Final will be played as follows: 1 plays 2. The winning finalist will be awarded the Women’s Provincial Championship trophy. In the event that two or more Provincial Unions are tied with the same number of competition points, the finishing positions of the Provincial Unions will be determined in accordance with the following criteria, which will be applied in the order in which they appear below until a result as to the positions of the relevant Provincial Unions is determined: Where any two Provincial Unions are tied: • The winner of any Round Robin match played between the two Provincial Unions in that year shall have the higher position; • The Provincial Union which has the higher points difference in the Round Robin will have the higher position. Where three or more Provincial Unions are tied: • The tied Provincial Union with the most competition points in that year against the other tied Provincial Unions shall have the higher position; • If three or more Provincial Unions have an equal number of competition points against the other tied Provincial Unions, the tied Provincial Union which has the higher points difference in the Round Robin will have the higher position. If a tie cannot be broken by the criteria above: • The Provincial Union that scored the most tries in the Round Robin shall have the higher position; • The Provincial Union that scored the most points in the Round Robin shall have the higher position • The toss of a coin will be used. 4 go back to the start 2014 WOMEN’S PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW DATE KICK OFF MATCH VENUE CITY WEEK 1 Sat 23 Aug 2�10pm Counties Manukau v ECOLight Pukekohe Auckland Stadium Sat 23 Aug 3�15pm Bay of Plenty v Otago International Rotorua Stadium Sat 23 Aug 1�30pm Hawke's Bay v Waikato Tremain Field Napier Sun 24 Aug 12�00pm Manawatu v Wellington* FMG Stadium Palmerston North BYE Canterbury WEEK 2 Sat 30 Aug 12�00pm Counties Manukau v ECOLight Pukekohe Hawke's Bay * Stadium Sat 30 Aug 12�30pm Canterbury v Bay of Rugby Park Christchurch Plenty Sat 30 Aug 1�00pm Waikato v Manawatu Fraser Tech Hamilton Rugby Club Sat 30 Aug 12�30pm Wellington v Otago Petone Petone Recreation Ground BYE Auckland WEEK 3 Sat 6 Sept 12�30pm Auckland v Wellington * Eden Park Auckland Sat 6 Sept 12�45pm Waikato v Bay of Plenty Fraser Tech Hamilton Rugby Club Sat 6 Sept 12�30pm Otago v Counties University Oval 1 Dunedin Manukau Sat 6 Sept 12:00pm Manawatu v Canterbury Arena Manawatu Palmerston Field 3 North BYE Hawkes Bay WEEK 4 Sat 13 Sept 12�00pm Bay of Plenty v Auckland Rotorua Rotorua * International Stadium Sat 13 Sept 11�00am Hawkes Bay v Otago Tareha Reserve Napier Sat 13 Sept 12�30pm Canterbury v Wellington Rugby Park Christchurch Sat 13 Sept 12:30pm Manawatu v Counties FMG Stadium Palmerston Manukau North BYE Waikato go back to the start 2014 WOMEN’S PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW DATE KICK OFF MATCH VENUE CITY WEEK 5 Sat 20 Sept 2�30pm Hawkes Bay v Manawatu Tremain Field Napier Sat 20 Sept 12�30pm Wellington v Bay of Petone Petone Plenty Recreation Ground Sat 20 Sept 2�45pm Auckland v Waikato Western Springs Auckland Stadium Sun 21 Sept 12�00pm Otago v Canterbury * Forsyth Barr Dunedin Stadium BYE Counties Manukau WEEK 6 Sat 27 Sept 12�30pm Waikato v Canterbury * Waikato Stadium Hamilton Sat 27 Sept 3�10pm Counties Manukau v ECOLight Pukekohe Wellington Stadium Sat 27 Sept 12�30pm Auckland v Hawkes Bay Western Springs Auckland

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