Season Preview: Premier Women
2022 is a momentous year for rugby in New Zealand with the first women's Super Rugby competition having recently concluded and the Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Aotearoa in October and November this year. 2022 is also shaping up to be a promising season for the Marist St Pats Premier Women side.
The first round Rebecca Liua'ana Trophy kicks off this weekend with Marist St Pats hosting perennial competition heavyweights Northern United at Evans Bay Park.
While our side will be confident that they can contend after a strong preseason outing against the same side at Porirua Park last weekend, now veteran coach Ryan Setefano says he team is really just looking forward to getting out on the field together after a Covid disrupted preseason. 'It’s going to be pretty cool seeing the ladies finally out there doing what they love. We’ll take it week by week.'
Ryan will have a new coaching team around him with Charlene Gubb (forwards/defence) and Tui Tuiatua (scrums) onboard for the new season. They will be joined by Petrina Foaese (Manager), Luke Donaldson (Team Doctor) and Kathryn McConville (Team Masseuse - KM Sports and Remedial Massage).
The team also has an extensive list of exciting new players joining the season (listed below), a testament to the reputation of our Women's rugby programme over the past few years.
Always promoting a team first culture, Ryan is reluctant to single out individual players to watch saying 'we’re actually pretty blessed across the board but keep an eye out for some new talent this year going to don the red jersey first the first time.'
That talent includes Chiefs Manawa pivot Georgia Daals who unites with fellow Super Rugby Aupiki pioneers Ana Afuie and Monica Tagoai.
Jaydah Timu returns to the captaincy role after a year off with work commitments. 'She leads with action and is respected amongst her sisters. Also our Vice captain will be Cheyne Copeland backed up by our spirit and spine leadership group.'
Our Premier Women kick off their season at Evans Bay Park at 11.30am on Saturday, hosting Northern United.
| Gains
|
Losses
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Mariko
|
United Kingdom
|
Lyric Faleafaga
|
Injured
|
| Alohagia Tuangalu
|
Paremata-Plimmerton
|
Rosi Lomani
|
Fijiana Drua
|
| Carlida Te Awhe
|
Manawatu
|
Saraya O'Dea
|
Ahipara
|
| Chloe Withers
|
United Kingdom
|
Moana Solia
|
Sabbatical
|
| Georgia Daals
|
Chiefs Manawa
|
Gene Solia-Gibb
|
Family commitments
|
| Kamila Leota
|
Poneke
|
Anna Liumaihetau-Darling
|
Work
|
| Kelly Tuiatua
|
Melbourne
|
Mui Liumaihetau (Coach)
|
Work
|
| Letitia Smith
|
Wellington
|
Valerie Moon (Manager)
|
Pending arrival
|
| Lucy Okedon
|
Sheffield RUFC (UK)
|
||
| Luisa Vatulawa
|
Wellington
|
||
| Madi Lauter
|
Wellington
|
||
| Madison Matulino
|
Wellington
|
||
| Maia Broughton
|
Wellington East Girls College
|
||
| Thamsyn Newton
|
Paremata-Plimmerton
|
||
MSP Supporters
Shamrock Club
