The numbers are slightly up. More girls and women are picking up a rugby ball and running with it, and total player numbers remain strong, according to New Zealand Rugby's (NZR) 2015 rugby registration numbers.
In 2015, more rugby players than ever before laced up their boots; a record 150,727, compared to 150,564 the year before.
General Manager Community and Provincial Union Rugby Brent Anderson said the steady numbers reflected the special place rugby had in communities across New Zealand.
"City and rural, north and south, in every corner of New Zealand rugby remains popular. We saw recently how our national game unites the country. It's been a very special year."
As in 2014, the largest increase (11 percent) in numbers was among female players, up from 17,825 to 19,792 in 2015.