What does this program look like?
The program is for girls who wish to learn, play, and develop their rugby. This may be their first year, they may have a few years of rugby already, or they may be looking to return to the game.
Each month, we will come together in a group environment to:
Learn the game's skills and tactics. Balancing our lives and promoting the reason we play and enjoy the game in the first place.
Plan our fundraising and trip, and support each of us to get there.
Train as a team, developing our own game style and learning to work as small teams to achieve large
results.
Outside the group environment, we support players in their rugby development. When they want to improve a skill or are having trouble in an area, we will be there to guide them and keep them engaged.
“Train smarter, not harder”
Program Approach
Tour of 2025
The 2025 team was made up of players from across the region, from Mahurangi to Northcote to Waikato.
This was not a team of rep players, but rather a group of players who wanted to play and learn rugby. Visit their team profile.
By the end of the year, we had:
- 4 Harbour U18 players
- 2 Waikato U18 players
- 5 Harbour 7s U18 girls
- 6 Global Youth 7s participants
- 1 NZ Māori Girls Global Youth 7s player
- 1 NZ Barbarians Global Youth 7s player
- 1 North Harbour Farah Palamer Cup representative
The BIg Dance
In April 2027, we will travel to Portugal to play in the Rugby Youth Festival tournament.
This tournament attracts 120 teams, and it will be in its 19th year, where we will be entering the 15-a-side U18 Girls competition.
As a group of like-minded players, we tour and experience the unique environment of a travelling sports team.
The tour will begin, landing in France, where we will play a warm-up match. From there, we will travel to Lisbon and the tournament.
On our travels, we will meet a whole group of like-minded girls from another part of the world. We will look to train, share meals and make new friends.
Player Profile
What sort of player are we looking for?
We encourage you to play other sports, and we aim to avoid clashes, but rugby will be your priority sport in 2026.
You will be on a team with a mixture of the experienced and those new to contact rugby. You will need to help others grow and develop, and embrace the challenge to step up.
If you have a desire to not just get better but smarter at playing rugby, surrounded by other girls with the same intention, then that is the sort of player who will fit well into the team.
First Practice
Throughout 2026, you will play for your school team, and we plan to hold 10 Sunday sessions from 9 am to midday.
These are not what you will be doing at your regular rugby practices. We will learn the game and organise our trip. In 2025, we had guest coaches, a concussion session, gear fit-outs, media promotions, as well as our practices.
Our first session will be at the end of February. We will discuss our development plan for the year before we begin with a photo shoot. Out on the field, we will go over our 'Preparing for Contact' process. Start our rugby athlete development sessions and conclude with learning our Kickoff play.
Hopefully, we will also find our Team DJ and quickly get away from the coach's options.
Register your Interest
Register to be kept informed and don't hold back on the questions
By filling out the form below, we will keep you informed as developments unfold. In early February, we will look to open official registrations.
** To qualify for the U18 grade in 2027, we expect you will need to be born between 01.09.2008 and 31.12.2011, but we will not be able to confirm that until the tournament details are released. Younger players can get certificates to play up.
** The tournament is the weekend 3rd & 4th April 2027
It's More Than Just The PLayers
The girls don't have a great experience just because of themselves.
All the people who give some of their time, expertise, and dedication to make it happen are the ones who make it work.
Get in contact if you would like to be involved in some capacity, perhaps providing some specialist coaching at a training session, offering fundraising opportunities, joining as a physio, or serving as our social media influencer.
Being a player surrounded by people who want to help you succeed is a wonderful environment.
Knowing you were part of someone's success is even better.
Inquiries & Questions
Have questions or want to get involved?
