A whole generation of girls and boys will get to watch their mighty Black Ferns heroines play live.
Photo: Black Ferns vs Wallaroos (Courtesy of Getty Images)
Women in Sport Aotearoa congratulates Dr Farah Palmer and New Zealand Rugby on securing the rights to host the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup overnight, following a competitive bid against Australia. New Zealand will be the first Southern Hemisphere nation to host the event.
Rachel Froggatt, Chief Executive, said: “This is another historic win for New Zealand Rugby, but also an extraordinary win for women and girls sport in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
“To have one of the world’s largest pinnacle events in women’s sport here in Aotearoa will have an enormous impact on the psyche of all New Zealanders. It will challenge perceptions of women’s sport and female athletes and influence how we think about women across our society.”
“Not only will a whole generation of young girls and boys will get to watch their mighty Black Ferns heroines play live in defence of their World Cup title, several hundred female athletes from the 12 competing nations will provide us with an epic showcase of talent, determination and ambition.”
“The timing is exceptional, especially with the 2021 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup also in Aotearoa New Zealand that year. Less than a year later New Zealand will host over 1,400 international influencers from sport, business, media and academia at the 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport in Auckland. Successful hosting of the Women’s Rugby World Cup and Women’s Cricket World Cup will create brilliant examples and help us position New Zealand as leading the world for women’s sport.”
Women in Sport Aotearoa is New Zealand’s leading advocacy group dedicated to gender equity in sport. Established in 2016, it exists to transform the sporting landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring all women and girls gain equal opportunity to participate, compete and build careers in sport. Over the past two years Women in Sport Aotearoa has grown substantially and recently played a key role as an expert consultant in the new Government Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy, launched in October 2018.
In September 2018, Women in Sport Aotearoa became the delivery agent for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport Secretariat and Conference 2018 – 2022, after New Zealand won the global hosting rights. In the coming years, Women in Sport Aotearoa’s responsibilities will include delivery of the IWG Strategic Plan and Conference, plus global advocacy programmes and support for the IWG Global Governing Board. Women in Sport Aotearoa will also have overall stewardship of the 600+ organisations and individuals that have signed the Brighton Declaration on Women in Sport, the foundation document for women’s sport. In 2022, Women in Sport Aotearoa will deliver the 8th IWG World Conference.
