VIDEO: Carlos Spencer backs the idea of another Rugby Champs
REACTION: With the Rugby Championship fast approaching – and the recent success of the U20 edition – All Black legend Carlos Spencer has called for a women’s version of the Southern Hemisphere tournament.
His comments followed the Black Ferns XV’s 24-41 defeat to the Springbok Women on Saturday at Athlone Stadium – a historic match marking the first time a New Zealand women’s team played on South African soil.
Just a week earlier, the Black Ferns XV – although a development side – looked on track to clinch the series after a 34-26 win in the opening test.
But the Springbok Women had other ideas.
The Boks outscored seven tries to four and levelled the series at 1-1 with an impressive win ahead of their World Cup campaign.
When asked if a Rugby Championship tournament should be considered for the women’s game, the All Blacks legend stated: “Yeah, definitely.
“I think it’s going to happen.”
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He emphasised the importance of more regular and competitive fixtures for the growth of women’s rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.
“I think tours like this are going to make that possible.
“So the more we get games like this – for us as New Zealanders, for them as Springboks – to be able to travel, it’s only going to give the game more exposure in the women’s space.
“It’s absolutely crucial.”
He added: “We always talk about financial [challenges] and the difficulties behind that.
“But I just think, in terms of the women’s space moving forward, this is a great example of what needs to happen.”
Black Ferns XV captain Holly Greenway echoed Spencer’s view, calling the idea of a women’s Rugby Championship “awesome.”
“I mean, as Los [Carlos Spencer] said, it is very hard financially sometimes supporting these things.
“But, I mean, our XV team has been together essentially for probably three weeks – if that.
“And it makes it really hard to be able to put together quality rugby, not having played alongside these girls for very long, if at all.
“But there’s a lot of time and effort getting pumped into women’s rugby in New Zealand at the moment to help with growth and development.
“And then, if we can see that from every other country as well – and combine that – I think it would be really awesome for women’s rugby.
“We’d just see it skyrocket with the level we can produce.”
At the moment, the Black Ferns participate in the WXV 1 and Pacific Four Series with Australia, USA and Canada.
For South Africa, it’s the Rugby Africa Cup, which they have dominated since 2019 and the WXV 2.
