The long-awaited review of the culture of the Black Ferns women’s rugby team found that there were challenges in the high-performance environment. There are communication issues and significant communication issues. There are also health and wellbeing problems within the set-up.
The Findings New Zealand Rugby released Monday’s cultural and environmental review of the Black Ferns.
The review was initiated after Te Kura Ngata Aerengamates, a veteran hooker, made serious allegations about the team’s environment under Glenn Moore as a result of the side’s northern tour last season.
The tour also encountered difficulties on the pitch, where the Black Ferns played two matches against England and one against France, losing each of them comprehensively.
The report found that NZ Rugby had worked with players and management to bring the Black Ferns into the professional era. However, there was no consistent high-performance vision. This needed to be addressed.
Management gaps arose due to insufficient training and recruitment. The Black Ferns had responsibility for creating an environment that was inclusive of culture, gender, sexuality and diversity.
The Black Ferns needed to be more aware of the rights, cultural, and welfare needs of players as well as management.
The panel consisted of Phillipa Mur, Tammi Uluinayau and Eleanor Butterworth, Gilbert Enoka, and cultural advisors Luke Crawford (Saveatama Eroni-Clarke).
Mark Robinson, chief executive of NZ Rugby, stated that his organisation had carefully reviewed the report and that work on implantation was underway.
There should be no doubt about our commitment towards the development of women’s rugby in this country. Robinson released a statement saying that the report shows that we haven’t done everything right and that we apologize for not giving our people all the tools they need to succeed.
The Black Ferns have been great ambassadors of rugby. They have won five of seven Rugby World Cups, and have greatly contributed to the legacy and mana of New Zealand Rugby over that period, he said.
The Black Ferns were left behind by professionalism since its inception, especially by Northern Hemisphere teams that were rapidly developing in a Six Nations environment. They will likely be up against it in New Zealand’s World Cup.
Many changes have already been made to Black Ferns’ coaching structure, including the addition Wayne Smith, former All Blacks coach.
The review panel offered 26 recommendations including education and a focus to a harm-free work environment, communication strategies, personal development plans for the players, and education.
Glenn Moore responds
Moore, the head coach of the team, said that he would learn a lot from the review.
“As Black Ferns coach, it is an honor to lead the team into the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“It is an honor to work alongside a highly skilled, experienced management team who have a deep knowledge of what it takes to achieve success at the elite level of the sport. They also join me in coaching a talented and motivated team.
“My goal as Black Ferns coach, is to make sure the team excels on and off the field. I am driven to maximize our performance in all aspects and achieve a high level of excellence. Being a high-performance athlete, coach, player, or manager can present unique challenges. Today’s Black Ferns Cultural and Environmental Review highlights some of those challenges. The Review contains many learnings. These are the lessons I intend to take on board.
“I look forward in working with everyone involved in New Zealand Rugby, the Black Ferns and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association in order to create a high-performance culture.” One that strikes a healthy balance between personal well-being and the demands of playing at the highest level of sport.
