FOUR CANTERBURY WĀHINE TO FEATURE IN SECOND AHI KĀ AOTEAROA CAMPAIGN
By CRL and NZRL
Three Canterbury-based players have been selected to represent the Ahi Kā Aotearoa in the second edition of the Harvey Norman Women’s Championship on the Gold Coast next week.
Following a successful inaugural campaign in 2023, the team returns to the Championship with a squad of under-21s wāhine selected to represent New Zealand Rugby League, on the back of the ‘RISE’ Talent Development Programme.
Kyla Lynch-Brown and Manea-Faith Waaka were part of the squad for Ahi Kā Aotearoa’s inaugural campaign last May, before featuring the CRL Women’s Premiership grand final for Sydenham Swans and debuting for the Trillo Metals Canterbury Women’s team during the 2023 NZRL National Premiership.
Dynamic half Lynch-Brown and classy fullback Waaka will be joined by Linwood’s Madi Odering and Ella Bussey-Timo, who both represented Canterbury 18s last season.
Meanwhile, Canterbury’s Mel Tukapua is once again the manager of the team. Tukapua has managed myriad Canterbury and South Island senior and age-group representative teams, as well as the New Zealand 16s and 18s.
In partnership with the NRL, the yearly RISE programme saw an expansion from 2023. Previously only delivered in Auckland, earlier this year the programme was delivered across multiple sessions in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
RISE aims to better prepare young players for the rigours of high-performance environments such as the NRLW, targeting female players aged 17-21.
The Harvey Norman Women’s National Championship is an elite pathways tournament, allowing players from across Australia and New Zealand to showcase their skills in the representative arena.
The tournament consists of teams split into three grades across a four-day draw held in Pizzey Park, Gold Coast from March 21. Ahi Kā Aotearoa will play four games, facing the New South Wales City, Northern Territory and Western Australia representative teams in their grade.
Teams from Papua New Guinea and Fiji also feature in the expanded 2024 tournament. Last year’s event culminated in an 8-all draw in the final match between NSW City and defending champs Queensland Rubys.
“It is exciting to have a New Zealand team in the Championships again, what an amazing opportunity for our young wāhine to showcase their talent at an elite tournament,” said NZRL Head of Women’s Rugby League and Kiwi Ferns great Luisa Avaiki.
“This is important for the development of female rugby league in New Zealand, and will hopefully lead to opportunities for girls in the NRLW and Kiwi Ferns. I look forward to seeing our female rugby league continue growing.”
Entry to the event is free across all four days and games will be live-streamed on the NRLW YouTube channel.
Ahi Kā Aotearoa Schedule
Thursday, March 21: Ahi Kā Aotearoa v New South Wales City – 12:30pm NZT
Friday, March 22: Ahi Kā Aotearoa v Northern Territory – 1:30pm NZT
Saturday, March 23: Ahi Kā Aotearoa v Western Australia – 1:30pm NZT
Saturday, March 24: Ahi Kā Aotearoa v TBC – TBC
Follow NZRL’s social channels to keep up with the team’s journey throughout the tournament.
