Women's Competition Format & Draw Confirmed for 2017
Wellington Rugby are pleased to confirm the first round Women's competition draws for 2017.
2017 sees a new format where teams are split into two divisions from the outset of the season. The Division One teams will play for the Fleurs Trophy as per previous years, and the new Division Two will play for bragging rights.
At the completion of the first round, WRFU will ensure that the Division One (Victoria Tavern Trophy) has the five most competitive teams participating in it. This may mean that there is no promotion from Division Two, or that more than one team is promoted/relegated at the end of the first round.
Key changes for 2017 include the reintroduction of two of our founding Women's Rugby clubs; Paremata-Plimmerton (inaugural Fleurs Trophy winners) and Tawa (who have separated from Johnsonville this season), as well as the inaugural 1993 Victoria Tavern Trophy Winners; Petone.
Unfortunately 2016 participants; Upper Hutt Rams, Avalon Wolves and Johnsonville (merger with Tawa) are unable to field teams this season despite valiant efforts to find numbers. Whilst this is disappointing WRFU expect that the changes in format for 2017 will prove beneficial for these clubs to re-enter the competitions in 2018 or beyond.
Oriental-Rongotai and Northern United will both be looking to go one better in 2017, after sharing the Fleurs Trophy for the first time in its history. Hot on their tails will be Victoria Tavern Trophy Winners; Wainuiomata as well as the Gary Hilsdon Challenge Cup holders; Old Boys University. Rounding out Division One is Hutt Old Boys Marist who finished 2016 strongly as winners of the Second Round, Division Two competition.
In Division Two Marist St Pats will feel confident after a solid reintroduction last season. Whilst Poneke and Tawa can build on their recent years programmes. As mentioned above Petone and Paremata-Plimmerton re-enter the competition to round out Division Two.
The first round draw sees each club play two matches at home and two matches away, with a change being that all matches are played on grass fields on Saturdays.
The second round draws will be on the WRFU website following the completion of the First Round competitions.
