Following a successful first season of Northland Rugby Union (NRU) secondary school girls rugby 7s competition, Sport Northland’s Community Connector, Cheryl Smith, was contacted by Richard Woodman to organise a training workshop with Portia Woodman, who was returning home following the winning of the World Cup 7s Cup in San Francisco, USA.  

A day of training with Portia was organised for all players who had competed in the NRU U15 and U18 girls competitions. This included students from Kaikohe Intermediate, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe, Northland College and Bay of Islands College. “It was awesome to have Portia home to mentor and train so many keen local female rugby players. I hope that this will inspire them to go onto greater things. It was also awesome to have coaches and volunteers present to get a first-hand insight into the training methods and intensity of the Black Ferns” says Smith.

The students were worked hard by Portia. They enthusiastically practised skills, drills and some game strategies. Portia challenged the girls to step up and lead, stating that “In the Black Ferns, we all want to be in front at training and on the field, which helps to ensure a healthy competitive and winning culture.”

The day was a once in a lifetime experience for around 30 up and coming ‘rugby girls’. Cheryl and all the coaches remarked that the girls seemed to put in more effort and trained harder than they ever had before.

Local Te Kotahitanga E Mahi Kaha Trust supported the session by providing lunch for everybody on the day. Trust CEO Deidre Otene, was pleased to be able to be involved in a special day for local rangatahi.

Portia’s return home was rounded off with a fundraising event at Ohaeawai Rugby Clubrooms where she impressed everyone there with her maiden guest speaking appearance, later joined by Smith to share stories as members of the Black Ferns.