WINNERS, FIRST WOMEN'S WORLD 7'S CUP, HOMG KONG 2005
The triumphant 2004 Aotearoa (NZ) Maori Women’s 7’s rugby team with Jonah Lomu.
Winners of Women's Championship - Hong Kong 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Maori Sports Team of the year 2003.
Reigning Aotearoa Champions To Try For Fifth Hong Kong Victory
The reigning Hong Kong International Women’s 7’s champions, the Aotearoa Maori Women’s Rugby 7’s team, will try for a fifth victory at Hong Kong in the 2006 Hong Kong IRB World 7’s series. This year’s team includes the youngest player of the tournament, 15-year-old Shaan Waru. Capacity crowds are expected at all games. Last year the Aotearoa Maori Women’s Rugby 7’s completed a fantastic quadruple win with their victory over Australia in the final of the 2005 Hong Kong International Seven’s – the world’s most prestigious 7’s tournament. They are hoping to repeat their success again this year.
The Aotearoa team (the 2003 Maori Sports Team of the Year) has had to overcome major funding obstacles to return to Hong Kong and defend their title and No 1 world ranking. While there is still a significant funding shortfall, it is thanks to the efforts of very many individuals, team whanau, and various sponsoring organisations and agencies, that their 2006 Hong Kong defence has been made possible.
Brief
History
The Aotearoa Maori Women’s 7’s team (Nga Mareikura) first participated at Hong Kong in 2002, following the New Zealand Rugby Union decision not to send an official New Zealand team, and to instead concentrate their efforts and funding on the Women’s 15-a-side World Cup in Spain. The AMWR 7’s took up the invitation and, despite having to fund themselves, created history and lived up to their No 1 ranking by going through the tournament unbeaten, and comprehensively beating the USA in the final. The NZRU again decided in 2003 not to send an official New Zealand women’s team to Hong Kong. However, their Maori board, Whakapumautanga, endorsed the Aotearoa Maori Women’s team’s bid to win the invitation to return to Hong Kong and defend their title. Despite a strong lobby from former Black Ferns Coach, Darryl Sua Sua to take an invitation team (Wild Ducks) as New Zealand representatives, the Hong Kong organisers chose to invite the Peter Joseph coached, and Whakapumautanga supported, Aotearoa Maori Women’s team. The rest is history. The AMWR 7’s won the 2003 title with a devastating win over England 27-0 in the final. This same pattern was repeated in 2004. Although the final score in 2004 was closer, the win was just as emphatic. Australia (and their Black Ferns import) were out-muscled, out-thought, outplayed and …. out-classed.
This success story was repeated again in 2005, again under Captain Annie Brown’s strong leadership. The final against Australia, played in the packed Hong Kong Stadium, was a literal heart-stopper, with some brutal tackles from both sides and each having a player yellow-carded off the field. The awesome AMWR won through, taking out the trophy 19-12. The victorious Aotearoa team, who enjoy great popular support from the Hong Kong fans, were swamped with well-wishers and congratulations at the close of the game, which went two minutes over time.
Support
Financial and product support have always been difficult to gain, despite the team’s tremendous record and success. Coach Peter Joseph and his wife have again coped with a funding shortfall.
However, the team are delighted to have major sponsorship support from NZ Community Trust, who have given the team tremendous funding support, and First Sovereign, who are also major sponsors. Their sponsorship is most gratefully received by the team. Cathay Pacific have also again been extremely supportive of the team’s efforts. Although there is still a significant shortfall in funding, the team are looking at a number of alternatives to try and bridge the gap.
“The support from our sponsors has been tremendous”, said Selector/Coach, Peter Joseph. “ and it is thanks to them that we are back competing at Hong Kong this year. Without the funding support of the NZ Community Trust, First Sovereign, many other loyal supporters, and the massive individual efforts team members and their whanau have made, the cost would have been too great”, said Joseph.
THE AMWR 7’S TEAM WISH TO GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT:
MAJOR SPONSOR(S)
Cathay Pacific
New Zealand Community Trust
SPONSOR
Summit Engineering
FUNDING SUPPORT
Te Puni Kokiri
DONATION
TIASA
Whakapumautanga (Maori Board of NZRU)
Sports Resources
Rotorua Girls’ High School
StreamCom
| Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon Parekura Horomia |
Endorsement and support |
| Minister of Sport & Recreation, Hon Trevor Mallard |
Endorsement and support |
| Nanaia Mahuta, MP (Tainui) | Endorsement and support |
| Team Members’ Partners | Funding Support & and Whanau (Family) Encouragement |
And, the many community groups, businesses, radio stations, and individuals, who have also supported and helped fund raise for the team. Kia ora katoa!! Thank you all very much indeed!!
Ambassadors for Maori, for Rugby, and for New Zealand.
This champion team are worthy representatives and ambassadors. The team may officially be Aotearoa Maori Women’s 7’s but, to the thousands of Kiwis cheering their lungs out at the final and mobbing the team after their fantastic win – they are New Zealand!
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Nga Mareikura.
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