New Zealand rugby bosses have been slammed for scheduling an All Blacks Test to clash with the Black Ferns' quarter-final against Wales in their home World Cup.
New Zealand's women's team are reigning Women's Rugby World Cup champions and their emergence from their group, also containing Wales, Australia and Scotland, was always something of a guarantee, while they are the favourites to face England in the final. Being coached by World Cup winner Wayne Smith and ex-All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry, the Black Ferns will now face Ioan Cunningham's Wales side this Saturday in a rematch of their group fixture which the women in red lost 56-12 earlier this month.
But, given the Rugby World Cup draw was locked in last May to confirm what New Zealand's quarter-final slot would be should they progress, New Zealand Rugby has come under fire for scheduling an All Blacks men's Test match — which was announced in August, when a kick-off time was yet to be confirmed — to overlap with their own women's team at a home World Cup. The All Blacks’ opening game of their northern tour against Japan kicks off at 6.50pm local time on Saturday, 40 minutes before the Black Ferns play Wales in Whangarei at 7.30pm.
BBC journalist and commentator Sara Orchard said of the UK kick-off times: "So on Saturday at 6.50am Japan play the All Blacks, then at 7.30am Wales play the Black Ferns, in their home World Cup quarter final. Seems like a huge opportunity missed or massive oversight?"
Kiwi broadcaster Scotty Stevenson claims the clash "only serves to illustrate [New Zealand Rugby's] own hollow rhetoric when it comes to its support of the women in the game". Sharing the All Blacks' tour schedule on social media, Stevenson wrote: "On August 12 this year, this schedule was released by NZR. Between then and now, NZR has decided that they are happy that the kick off between the All Blacks and Japan directly clashes with the Black Ferns RWC Quarterfinal. That organisation has known for more than a year that this was the quarterfinal slot for its team. How an organisation can do this intentionally, when it undermines its own team, when it disadvantages its own fans, and when it only serves to illustrate its own hollow rhetoric when it comes to its support of the women in the game no longer surprises. It only serves to reinforce the belief that those in decision making roles are just not fit for purpose."
Commentator and journalist Nick Heath said: "Whether it’s ignorance or flagrant disregard, it speaks volumes about disconnected thinking and arrogance from the NZRU."
The governing body has since issued a statement to insist the oversight was not intentional, although they did not issue an apology. NZR said: "Unfortunately, when Japan Rugby set the kick-off time for the All Blacks Test, NZR did not take into account the Rugby World Cup stipulation that the host nation would play in the quarter-final 2 timeslot regardless of pool results and may inadvertently cause a clash. There was never an intent to overshadow the Rugby World Cup in any way and, New Zealand Rugby is delighted with how New Zealanders have embraced not only the Black Ferns but the tournament as a whole. NZR did make a request to Japan Rugby to move the kick-off time but we respect the reasons provided for not being able to shift the time. We know the scheduling clash is not ideal but fans are still able to watch and support the Black Ferns and the All Blacks. We encourage New Zealanders to keep up their inspiring support of the Black Ferns as they continue their journey through what has been a wonderful tournament to date. This promises to be an exciting weekend for our Teams in Black, and we look forward to supporting both the Black Ferns and All Blacks this weekend."
Black Ferns flanker Sarah Hirini made a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the public watch the All Blacks Test on repeat, The Telegraph reports. Echoing that sentiment, Black Ferns most-capped player Kendra Cocksedge, who will retire after the World Cup, said: "At the end of day, we're playing some really good footy and have attracted an awesome crowd across the country and across the world. We're hoping everyone gets in and supports us. We ask that from New Zealand and the world. There's been some good footy on display, and as Gossy [Hirini] said, watch the All Blacks on replay."
Kiri Allan, New Zealand’s justice minister, had also slammed the mistake and suggested New Zealand Rugby take tips on how to host a major tournament from Fifa, which staged the draw for the 2023 women’s football World Cup in Auckland last weekend. "I’ll be supporting our @BlackFerns this weekend in Whangarei," she wrote on Twitter. "But @NZRugby, this clash was avoidable, and frankly, disgraceful. For tips on how to plan a world standard womens World Cup, suggest you take some tips from @FIFAWorldCup who set the standard last w/e w their draw."
The Black Ferns attracted a crowd of 16,571 in Whangarei for their 57-0 win over Scotland in their final pool-stage game, a fortnight after a world record crowd of 34,235 watched them power past Australia in the opening game of the tournament at Eden Park.
The scheduling blunder has only added to incidents where New Zealand Rugby's attitude to women has come under fire.
The Union came under fire for a tone deaf tweet celebrating International Women's Day this year, posting a message on Twitter featuring a number of male players alongside women with the caption: "Forever grateful to all the women in our lives that allow us to play the game we love. Partners, mothers, daughters, doctors, physios, referees, administrators and fans. Appreciate you every day."
The fact no female players were pictured or mentioned was criticised, as well as the choice of the male players used: Sevu Reece, who was fined NZ$750 (£390) and discharged without conviction for an assault on his girlfriend in 2018, and Aaron Smith, who was caught having sex in a disabled toilet of an airport before a Test match - with the sex scandal, and the string of messages that were made public afterwards, leading the woman involved to claim that it was "clear that New Zealand has a serious problem with its rugby culture and misogynist attitude".
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