Moore wants more for the Black Ferns
Glenn Moore has called for more support for the Blacks Ferns, saying whe is keen to continue coaching the World Cup-winning side if things improve.
The New Zealand Rugby coach of the year has not confirmed a contract for the year ahead, but Moore is adamant whoever does end up coaching the side needs more time with the players.
Before the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in August, Moore had sporadic training camps with the side starting in May, just one month out from the June test series. Then the Black Ferns dispersed to their home towns and regrouped only for a handful more camps before they left for Ireland for the tournament.
Moore says he would have liked to have seen the players more than three weeks out from a test match, but was unsure whether this was possible under amateur contracts. He said more time could increase the team’s ability by 20 per cent, if not more.
‘‘The more resources and the more time with these players, the better they are going to get,’’ he said. ‘‘It is very different to bring players together for every third weekend for a two-day camp. It would be more efficient to have them days on end.’’
‘‘NZR are serious, they are aware that a lot of momentum is behind the women’s game right now and a lot of these girls are role models. If there is no stepping stone for these girls they will end up in other codes - they see all that.’’
NZR and the Rugby Players Association (RPLA) are negotiating player contracts for the Black Ferns and Moore said they deserve better than to be part-time players.
‘‘They actually deserve better, they actually deserve to have investment put into them. These women are not just great players, they’re good people.’’
Moore said coaching the Black Ferns was one of the best coaching experiences of his career that has included stints with the Highlanders and the Blues.
‘‘I would like to be involved, but it comes down to whether we continue to try to grow the game. I don’t want to be in a situation where we are just in a holding pattern, I would like to see us use this opportunity to grow.’’
NZR head of women’s rugby Cate Sexton said she would like to see the game continue to grow and said current negotiations with the RPLA would benefit women’s rugby.
‘‘They are paid, they absolutely are paid, but not on fulltime contracts. It is progressional and we are at a stage of how do we ensure that it’s sustainable.
‘‘Whether paid or not, they are great role models ... like anyone who wouldn’t love to be paid for what we do? We need to make sure it really is sustainable and not a flash in the pan.’’
Sexton had worked in a similar role for NZR some years ago and said the changes in women’s rugby have been ‘‘massive’’ with regard to support.
NZR is looking at an end-of-year tour but ‘‘it is all up in the air at this stage’’.
"They actually deserve better, they actually deserve to have investment put into them. These women are not just great players, they're good people." Glenn Moore, Black Ferns coach