Women’s Rugby Committee

COOK ISLANDS WOMEN’S RUGBY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

Action items from Previous meeting (13 January 2021)

Action items for next meeting 10^th March 2021

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer
2. Adoption of last minutes
3. Update on Action Items
4. Matters to be discussed:
   1. Constitution 7’s Proposal
   1. U18’s update
   1. Other matters
5. Other Matters
6. Closing Prayer

Discussion:

1. Welcome and Opening Prayer – Ben Koteka

• Adoption of Last Minutes:

Motioned: Edith Nicholas

Seconded: Rachel Metuangaro

• Update on Action Items – Ashleigh Wihongi-Willis

Letter to Air Rarotonga: Informally spoke to Ewan Smith, Managing Director in regards to sponsorship. All monetary sponsorship is on hold due to COVID19, however a discounted flights arrangement could be made. Muster has now been cancelled due to high participation numbers –  U18’s Management and Co-ordination team to put together a letter of sponsorship to Air Rarotonga once they have decided on their inter-island needs.

Constitution 7’s: Presented to the subcommittee via email. Will leave option for input open until 25^th February 2021 then will put together the final version including approximate budget.

Women’s Database: Work in progress but have on our action board and starting to put spreadsheets into place.

• Constitution 7’s Proposal:

4.1 Ashleigh to talk to Ants about inclusion in any Culture program and to confirm dates. A central venue is preferred (either Avatiu or Tupapa) in order to get Outer Islands involved. We will need to input changes to the plan in order to develop an approximate budget. Input from the Subcommittee will be accepted until the 25^th February to enable time to prepare a final proposal in time for Executive Meeting scheduled for 1^st March 2021.

Aim for a total of 20 teams – age grades and seniors.

U18 World Cup Squad will play together – making up 2-3 teams as numbers allow.

Suggestion for us to contact Siva Gounder at 4xcubes who may be a potential sponsor.

• Marketing Strategy – Ashleigh to propose a “I support women in rugby” marketing strategy which will ideally start end of March involve women’s club rugby, quick rip and our constitution 7s and finish with the U18 World Cup tournament. Its purpose is to involve local and community stakeholders with the intention of gaining support and awareness for the cause. Edith suggested we touch base with Kurai Foster at the Equity Commission for support.

• U18’s Update – Rachel Metuangaro:

Participation numbers have been high and the players are maintaining consistency. Focus has been on fitness and will progress to ball skills and contact in the coming weeks. Parents and Players have been issued a booklet with information on what is to be expected of them and how selection will work. Management team have informed parents that a balance of school and training is crucial to their success and have been approachable and flexible in this regard. As the campaign continues there will also be education on rehab, recovery and nutrition. This Management team as well as the players are pioneers for Women’s Rugby in the Cook Islands and we look forward to seeing them succeed.

• Other Matters:

6.1 Season Launch and Open Day:

Proposal to be made to the board to organise a season launch event which will be family friendly and involve junior grades as well as role model support, food stalls, junior quick rip games, bouncy castles etc. This will also serve to be an event where the board can address the community, let them know our plans for the season and include major sponsor participation.

• School Holiday Program and Rugby Union Academy Project:

Joseph Horn-Smith (Married to Aitutakian Diana Tschan) met with Ben and Ashleigh to discuss a curriculum and structure of both the School Holiday Programme and the possible long term project of the Rugby Union Academy.

1. School Holiday Programme – April (will look to run again in July holidays pending success):
2. 1x Week Male
3. 1x Week Females
4. Joe to prepare curriculum/content and mentor the 4x coaches needed
5. Expert workshops in various areas: nutrition, Strength and Conditioning, physio, sports management, mental wellness
6. Aiming for 50-60 per week (Open to all)
7. Look for transport where necessary
   1. Rugby Union Academy
8. Will run 9-10 months of the year for adults aged 17+
9. Open to all interested
10. Will look to support the academy through incentive travel, sponsorship, jobs and long distance learning or USP
11. Sport and Career driven
12. Pa Euna inclusive and will look to work with Tereora on Year 12 & 13 scholarships

Both will need to be well thought out and planned with the hopes to introduce adult academy in 2022.

Ashleigh to prepare budget and proposal to the board for April School Holiday programme initially with the idea that it be an event that runs in the April/July and October holidays. Hope that league and clubs get involved as skill set will cross over.

Ashleigh and Ben to work on a more thorough proposal and budget as 2021/22 project.

• Closing Prayer – Edith Nicholas

Action items for next meeting 11^th February 2020

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer
2. Meeting convened and chaired by Ashleigh Wihongi -Willis.
3. Matters to be discussed
   1. Objective and Setup
   1. 2021 CIRU Strategic Workplan
   1. Women’s Rugby – Action Plan
   1. Other Matters
4. Closing Prayer

Discussion:

1. Welcome and Opening Prayer – Ben Koteka

• Objective and Setup:

2.1 The role of the Women’s Subcommittee – will be a think tank to encourage participation and growth around Rugby Union and maintain the momentum that we have seen in women’s rugby off the back of the Cook Island Games and the Raro 7’s.

Meetings will take place monthly and for a period of one hour, however there will be correspondence via email where applicable.

This will be a prototype template with which we also aim to apply to Junior Development and overall at CIRU

2.2 Our objectives for Women’s Rugby – are to increase participation across all parts of Women’s Rugby by 10% for 2021, a lofty and ambitious goal, but one we think is vital to the ongoing success and growth of women’s rugby. This includes  – 10% increase in player participation, 10% increase in management, coaching and medical roles and 10% increase in facilitated workshop participation.

2.3 Viable Career Pathways – Another area we would like to see succeed is in the development of viable career pathways for women and many more female opportunities given. Our long term goal is to create enough participation and growth to support national teams at international competitions made up solely of locally based players and management.

• 2021 CIRU Strategic Workplan

3.1 Women’s Participation numbers for 2020 – Ben Koteka

• Overview of Strategic plan – Ashleigh & Ben – It would be beneficial for Action Plans going forward to be placed under one or more of the strategic goals. This not only helps to allocate funding from the CIRU but allows the ability for the CIRU to report back to Oceania Rugby on Women’s Development pertaining to the aforementioned strategic goals and key performance indicators. In the future this will also help for us to gain funding for Women’s based initiatives.

3.3  Women’s Development Funding Opportunities and how they are granted – Maureen –

This Strategic Plan will enable the subcommittee to develop an Action Plan in alignment with the KPI’s with which funding is based. In order to be a successful initiative, we must respect, listen to and empower women in and around rugby.

3.4 Workshop Participation – Discussion around the plan to expand female participation to workshops designated for February and June to enhance career pathways.

• Action Plan

4.1 Discussion around ways to increase U18’s attendance – Pa Enua development to also be considered for this and Sponsorship for their attendance from Air Rarotonga to be undertaken by Ashleigh.

4.2  Women’s Constitution 7’s tournament – to be proposed to the board to be undertaken over constitution week. This not only gives women media coverage and competition to maintain enthusiasm but also allows our U18’s a contact competition to compete in before they depart in September. It also has the added benefit of allowing us to identify talent from the Pa Enua which have not yet been captured. Ashleigh to draft up a proposal.

4.3 Women’s Sevens Club Competition during Union season – We will look to league and their success in adding a Women’s league to this seasons club comp to identify how to proceed forward with as much female club participation as possible during our Union season.

4.4 Women specific database – of players, managers, ex player, juniors, medical personnel and coaches in order to shoulder tap a larger and more experienced group of people when planning for national teams and committee initiatives. Ashleigh and Ben to compile.

• Other Matters:

5.1 Update on U18’s from Manager Rachel Metuangaro – Resignation of Head Coach position is an opportunity to create a female-centric management team which is the purpose of the Gamechangers initiative. Decision to readvertise the role for a FEMALE head coach was made. Plan B would be to shoulder tap males who have worked within women’s rugby previously if there were no applications for female head coach position.

Jules Westrupp was identified as a front runner pending application.

• Next Meeting: Thursday 11^th February at 5pm – CISNOC offices

Closing Prayer – Ben Koteka