Sisters United Academy's rugby team finds its feet in debut season

Sisters United Academy's first rugby season is over, and its opening chapter already looks like the start of something bigger than the result.

The Auckland school for Pasifika girls made rugby one of its founding sports, and in its first year fielded a team of 23 players, several of whom had never picked up a ball before this season.

With the season now finished, the squad's next assignment is Auckland's Condors Sevens competition in December.

Principal Bonnie Talamaivao said the decision to offer rugby early was deliberate.

"We knew from the beginning that sport would play a big part in establishing the culture of our school," Talamaivao said.

"As a school for Pasifika girls, we knew many of our young queens would have a strong interest in sport, and we wanted to create a school environment where young female athletes could be supported, developed and celebrated."

Rugby, she said, was a natural fit. "It is our national sport, and the women's game is growing rapidly. We wanted SUA to be part of that growth and, importantly, for our Young Queens to see rugby as an opportunity and a genuine pathway, whether that is simply playing for enjoyment, representing their school, or pursuing the sport at a higher level."

For year 10 student Mele, that opportunity came with more nerves than confidence at first.

"I've actually never played rugby before," Mele said. "I wanted to try something new and have a go at it and have fun as well."

Her first training session did little to settle those nerves.

"Honestly I felt really nervous and I didn't want to be there," she said. "I actually wanted to go back to school and do work. That's how bad I didn't want to be there."

What changed her mind was her first game, against Howick.

"After convincing myself to keep going, I played my first game against Howick and it felt really good," Mele said. "I had so much fun that I wanted to keep going and improve on my skills."

The physical side of the game still tests her.

"From all the games I've played, I still find myself scared. There's still bigger girls than me, but I still push myself to go forward, and after I get that blowout, I just keep going and it feels good."

Sisters United began the season in the school competition, which runs 10s and 15s grades through to Year 13. That meant the school's Year 9 and 10 players were often up against older, bigger and more experienced opposition.

"They were incredibly brave to take on that challenge," Talamaivao said.

With a few games left in the school season, Auckland Rugby offered the team a place in the U15 club competition. Sisters United took it, entering under Ponsonby Rugby Club so the girls could play against their own age group.

Between the two competitions, the team played 12 games in total, exactly the kind of grassroots growth the wider game is chasing as it tries to bring more young players into rugby and keep them there.

For Talamaivao, the value of the season went beyond the scoreline.

"We saw a huge increase in confidence in many of the girls who joined the team," she said.

"It also gave us the opportunity to see some of our students in a completely different light. We saw leadership develop, girls taking responsibility for one another, and students who initially took a chance on rugby beginning to put their hands up for other opportunities around the school as well."

She pointed to the school's values of sisterhood, joy, love and excellence as central to what the season built.

"The sisterhood they have developed is one of the strongest examples of connection we have seen in our first year of opening," Talamaivao said.

"Rugby brought together girls from different schools, with different levels of experience and skill, and gave them the opportunity to become a team."

Mele feels that bond every week.

"Having a bond with my team, learning new tactics, and getting a laugh after a hard day of doing work," she said, listing what she enjoys most about rugby.

Her advice to other girls considering giving rugby a go is simple.

"Don't hold back. Don't be scared, because it just ruins the fun and it takes away opportunities you could plan up for yourself."

Talamaivao said the growth across the season was obvious, but so was the enjoyment.

"The amount of growth from their first game to their last was so evident. But the best part was seeing how much fun they had along the way. They made Coach Wayne, their parents and school incredibly proud.

“For us, it isn't only about developing rugby players. It is about giving girls opportunities to discover something about themselves - their resilience, their leadership, their courage and their ability to work as part of a team."

Coach Wayne Ngaluafe kept that message front and centre throughout the season, regardless of results.

"You would never know when the team had lost a game because they looked like they had won from the way they carried themselves and how much fun they had each game," Talamaivao said. "For our team, it was never about the win."

Sisters United now has the sevens season ahead of it in December, one more chance to build on a first year that changed how some of its players saw themselves.

"We will build from here and we hope to become a strong competitor in years to come," Talamaivao said. "That is the kind of culture we want to keep building at SUA."