• Eight Auckland players in first Black Ferns Professional Performance Programme
• World Cup winning captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili returns to squad

Eight Auckland Black Ferns are part of the first Professional Performance Programme. Charmaine Smith, Aldora Itunu, Fiao’o Fa’amausili, Aleisha Nelson, Eloise Blackwell, Charmaine McMenamin, Linda Itunu and Ruahei Demant all feature in the 28-strong list of those contracted by New Zealand Rugby.

Backs:

Forwards:

The formal Black Ferns professional performace programme was announced by NZR earlier in the year and is a significant step-forward in the acknowledgement and growth of the women’s game in New Zealand.

The success of the Black Ferns at last year’s Rugby World Championship proved to be the catalyst for some frank discussion’s taking place. Their success on the global stage could no longer be ignored and the leap into the world of professionalism allows for rugby to become a possible career path for young, aspiring players throughout New Zealand.

Auckland has been blessed with arguably New Zealand’s greatest ever women’s player in Fiao’o Fa’amausili who last year celebrated being the first woman to play 100 games for a single province, as well as 50 tests for the Black Ferns.

Black Ferns Head Coach Glenn Moore was delighted to be able to offer Fa’amausili a contract.

“We are thrilled to offer Fi a contract. She is as fit as she's ever been and is super passionate about being inolved. There are a number of new faces among those named and to have Fi’s skills and experience to call on will be invaluable. She also brings fantastic skills in her position and it’s an area we need to develop with newer players. She can help us with that.”

Her fellow Auckland Black Ferns are supremely talented in their own right, and in recent years, have played a significant part in the success of the Auckland Storm and Black Ferns.

"Among this squad are a number of very talented young players who have been working hard in their clubs and Provincial Unions. Our talent identification programme has helped us develop depth in our wider player pool and the Black Ferns performance at the World Cup has given players something to aspire to," said Moore.

Auckland Rugby has also stood-up, with the first in-take of female players into the High Performance Academy out of high school having occurred this year.

Auckland Storm Head Coach, JP Fa’amausili, sees the introduction of a national professional performance programme and female Auckland players as part of the High Performance Academy a natural progression for the women’s game.

“The success of women’s rugby up to this point had largely been achieved off the back of an amateur playing model. The ability for these women to now train to a professional standard will only increase their performance and add to their already astounding success.”

“We now have the opportunity to say to these young girls that there is a pathway for them, and that rugby is a viable career path.”

About the contracts

• Guaranteed retainer for one year (NB the Memorandum of Understanding with NZRPA is due for renegotiation in 2019)
• Assembly fees if selected for Black Ferns training camps and fixtures (approximately 50 days/year in total)
• Medical and life insurance, an opportunity to join the Player Savings Scheme and KiwiSaver
• Technical, tactical, biomechanical, strength and conditioning programming, nutritional advice, medical and sports psychological support
• 10-14 hours per week commitment required for rugby training however, priority will be given to ensuring players can maintain their work and study while on the programme
• Personal Development to assist in areas of career/education and work, finance and asset protection, character development, mental wellness and other professional rugby obligations and expectations
• A Personal Development Manager will be allocated specifically to support the Black Ferns
• Parental Policy for players returning to the programme from maternity leave
• Remuneration for the players paid out of the Player Payment Pool agreed between NZR and the NZRPA under the existing Collective Employment Agreement (CEA)