Super Rugby Women: Blues Women & Waitomo Wahine Chiefs confirmed

The first-ever Super Rugby Women’s match will be played on Saturday 1st of May, 4:35pm at Eden Park between the Blues Women and Waitomo Wahine Chiefs.

"We are up first representing our franchises and we have a huge responsibility now to do justice for our regions but also to put on a spectacle so we can get the backing from the fans, and show the franchises that are not involved that this is a good pathway for them to jump on board,” said Black Ferns' Eloise Blackwell.

“It seems to be a natural progression from the Farah Palmer Cup. In women’s rugby we always give thanks to those who came before us and paved the way, and we are trying to do our bit now so future generations coming through have equal, if not greater, opportunities than we were given.”

Black Ferns legend and current Auckland Rugby women’s player development manager Anna Richards has high hopes for this fixture being a forerunner of, not just regular matchups between the northern franchise rivals but maybe even a broader competition.

In 1996, Richards played in the curtain-raiser to the first ever game of Super Rugby in Palmerston North between the Hurricanes and Blues, when she appeared for an invitation side against a Wellington lineup.

She will be an assistant coach for the Blues in the May 1 fixture.