Rugby: Battle of the Kaimai tournament shows growth in women's rugby

Rangiuru co-captain Ereti Williams dives over the try line earlier this season. Photo/ File

The Bay of Plenty's top women's rugby teams are preparing to take on their rivals from across the Kaimai Ranges next month.

The showdown between the top-five qualifying women's rugby teams from both Bay of Plenty and Waikato will take place at Tauranga Domain on August 4.

The Battle of the Kaimai Championship is a new one-day tournament launched by the rugby unions of Bay of Plenty and Waikato to create a meaningful competition between the clubs.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union women's development officer Lesley Elder said the championship aimed to create strong links between the two unions, and would showcase women's rugby to a wider audience.

"The championship will provide more women [with] exposure to a higher level of club rugby, and access to different playing opportunities."

Elder said the championship would boost the Provincial Union and clubs' loyalty and pride, and would also create a championship that every player would want to participate in.

"The intent is to increase the value of internal Provincial Union club competitions due to more teams striving to compete at this event," Elder said.

The Rangataua women's rugby team were sitting at the top of the BoP table and coach Paul Pou said the new championship would raise awareness of women's rugby and showed how much growth there was in the game.

"For the unions to be thinking big-picture stuff is good, it will provide more playing opportunities in the future."

Pou said the tournament was also an exciting opportunity for local women's teams to test their capabilities against those from the Waikato.

"To be able to showcase their skill, their combativeness and their ability to a wider audience is going to be very exciting for spectators," he said.

Rangiuru player and club committee member Kendra Reynolds said the upcoming championship had created a buzz within the team.

"It's really exciting, it's another opportunity to show people what we can do," she said.

Reynolds said it would be good to see where Rangiuru sat in comparison to the teams who were in the same position in the Waikato table.

Battle of the Kaimai draw format:

11.15am: 4th vs 4th and 5th vs 5th
1.00pm: 2nd vs 2nd and 3rd vs 3rd
2.45pm: 1st vs 1st