Little did a Whanganui women's rugby team of 68 years ago realise that the women's side of the sport in the country would become world champions.
A group of young Whanganui women wore the union jerseys in a charity match played at Spriggens Park in 1949. Now, during a new millennium, New Zealand women's rugby has hit new heights on the international scene.
Women started playing the sport during the 19th century but it was former Whanganui, Taranaki and All Black selector-coach JJ Stewart who was instrumental in championing the women's game at the highest level.
Stewart, Whanganui coach in 1970 and 1971, as a NZRFU national councillor in 1989 started encouraging the women's side of the sport in this country. In recognition of this the J J Stewart Challenge Trophy is contested during the women's provincial championship which started in 1999.
At community level the number of women and girls involved in the game has shot ahead as have the number of participating teams, including here in Whanganui.
Globally there are more than two million females from 120 countries involved in rugby.
Whanganui currently has Bridget Belsham as the union's first CEO and one of the two Community Rugby Development Officers, Canadian Lesley McKenzie, has been instrumental in the recent growth of women's rugby in the district.
