Women's Rugby

Wellington has one of the largest and most competitive women's Rugby grades in New Zealand. Not only do we have a good club competition, but our representative teams reguarly make the finals of their competitions; including the Farah Palmer Womens National Provincial Championship and the annual National Sevens tournament held in Rotorua.

2019 recognises 30 years of women’s rugby in Wellington which officially started in 1989.

The women’s game is receiving more exposure, with a particular mention of the tremendous efforts from the Wellington Pride side which won the Farah Palmer Championship last season. The performance of the side saw five of the Wellington Pride players contracted to the Black Ferns squad.

There are 3 trophies up for grabs in the women's competition:

  • Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy (Formerly known as Fleurs Trophy) - Women's First Round

  • Tia Paasi Memorial Trophy (Formerly known as Victoria Tavern Trophy) - Women's Second Round, Division One

  • Izzy Ford Trophy - Women's Second Round, Division Two

 

For more information, click the logos to go to the club's pages within this section...

Competing Clubs

Avalon was formed in 1994, and has been competing in the women's rugby competition for 13 seasons. 
They have won both the Rebecca Liua'ana & Tia Paasi Memorial Trophies in their existence in 2001 and 2007 respectively.
Avalon has merged with Wainuiomata for the 2019 season.

Hutt Old Boys Marist was formed in 1999, and has been in our competition for 13 seasons.
They won the Tia Paasi Memorial Trophy in 1999 and 2006, and the Izzy Ford Trophy in 2016.

Marist St Pats was formed in 2008 and have been in our competition for 9 seasons.
After being merged with Poneke in 2014 and having the year off in 2015, they returned in 2016.

Northern United was one of the founding clubs formed in 1990 and is the only club that has appeared in our competition every season.
By far, Norths are the most successful club having won the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy 15 times and the Tia Paasi Trophy 12 times.

Old Boys University was formed in 2001, and have appeared in our competition for 16 seasons.
They won the Izzy Ford Trophy in 2018.

Oriental-Rongotai was formed in 1995, and is the second oldest Womens Club.
They have been in our competition for 23 seasons and won the Izzy Ford Trophy in 2000, the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and the Tia Paasi Trophy in 2014 and 2017.

Paremata-Plimmerton is a founding club and were the inaugural Women's competition winner in 1990 before the Fleurs (now known as the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy) and Victoria Tavern (now known as the Tia Paasi Trophy) Trophies arrived.

Petone was formed in 1993.
They won the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy in 1994, the Tia Paasi Trophy in 1993 and 1994, and the Izzy Ford Trophy in 2017.

Poneke was formed in 1991, and is the third oldest women's club.
Poneke have been in our competition for 20 seasons and are yet to win any competitions.

Wainuiomata is another of our founding clubs from 1990 and have been part of the competition for 17 seasons.
They won the Tia Paasi Trophy in 2012 and 2016, and the Izzy Ford Trophy in 2015.
Wainuiomata has merged with Avalon for the 2019 season.


Other Clubs that have appeared over the last 30 years

  • Eketahuna (from Wairarapa) took part in our competition in 2010 to 2012 winning the Rebecca Liua'ana & Tia Paasi Trophies in 2011.

  • Fort Dorset was one of our founding Clubs in 1990 and only appeared in our competition in that year.

  • Johnsonville merged with Tawa for 2016. The Johnsonville Rugby Football Club women's team was one of the founding clubs in 1990 and have been in our competition for 12 seasons. They won the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy in 2008.

  • Paraparaumu took part for 1 year in our competition in 2003

  • Stokes Valley another founding club from 1990 won the Womens competition in 1991 and 1992 again before Fleurs and Victoria Tavern arrived. They have appeared in our competition for 14 years.

  • Tawa merged with Johnsonville for 2016. Tawa was also a founding club in 1990 and have previously been in our competition for 5 seasons.

  • Upper Hutt Rams is the newest team in our Women competition, starting this year. Previously, their merger clubs, Upper Hutt and Rimutaka, have both had women's teams compete, with Upper Hutt beginning in 1998, and Rimutaka in 2002.

  • Western Suburbs was formed in 1991 and have appeared in our competition for 7 years.

  • Wellington was another founding member in 1990. They appeared in our competition for 13 years and are the second most club to have won titles in our competition. Winning the Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy 4 times and Tia Paasi Trophy 3 times.