Richmond Roses celebrate 30 years of dedication to Women in Rugby League with their Anniversary weekend because Once a Rose, ALWAYS a Rose.
On 19th July 2024, Richmond Rovers Rugby League club commenced the celebration of 30 years of dedication to the development of Women’s Rugby League in Tamaki Makaurau.
The club is steeped in history, first taking shape at Grey Lynn Park in 1913, giving rise to the women’s Richmond Roses team in the early 1990s.
Through the dedication of the club's coaching and management teams, the Rosebuds were cultivated in 2017, and junior teams in the Under 13s, Under 15s and 17s grades flourished for the last 8 years. An achievable and visible pathway has been key in the success of fostering young female players develop and progress into the Premier ranks with many developing Roses players, coaches, and managers taking higher honours within Auckland Rugby League, NZ Rugby League and the NRL with some notable Roses including:
Luisa Avaiki, a Rose and ex-Kiwi Fern, and Auckland Ruby League Immortal inductee. The first woman’s Warriors Coach and current head of NZRL Women's Rugby League, Luisa currently coaches the Richmond Under 16 Rosebuds and is instrumental in the youth girls' Rosebuds pathways.
Ruth Vae, a long-standing player of the Richmond Roses Premier side, is now playing in the Clubs Championship team alongside her daughter Phayezon Vae, they are one of many “mother-daughter duos” produced by the female pathway. Ruth has been coaching the Rosebuds grades for the last 7 years and you can watch her in action including her inspiring post-match interview in the 2024 Women’s Championship Final at Mt Smart on Wednesday 24th July 2024. Despite her team's narrow loss (pictured below), Ruth exudes a love for the game and the well-being of her teammates and the opposition
Sharlene Atai, Kiwi Fern and Assistant Coach of the Cook Island Woman’s Rugby League team. Sharlene is the current Premier Roses Head Coach, her daughters are also playing for Richmond in the Roses and the Rosebuds.
Georgia Hale, Kiwi Fern, Gold Coast Titan’s NRLW Captain, New Zealander of the Year and a fan favourite. Georgia was on hand to send a message to the Roses from Australia for the anniversary celebrations, reminding the sisterhood that “once a Rose, ALWAYS a Rose.”
Tasha Davie helped create the pilot for the girls grades and played for the Roses for many years. When awarded the ARL Women’s Premiership Coach of the Year in 2023, Tasha said she aims to encourage more women to enter the coaching realm.
Anna Lundon has held key roles within the Richmond club from a player to club chair and club secretary. Anna’s work has been tireless and through her tireless efforts the Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club has been able to continue to offer development and playing opportunities year on year.
Luisa Avaiki and Rose Iefata have been dedicated to the continuation of the Rosebuds Preseason Academy, which allows girls aged 10-18 to flourish. The programme is run at. Grey Lynn park starting in November and includes and annual camp to the Willow Park Christian Camp in March each year, known to host many sports camps. The academy builds the confidence and skill base before girls split into teams for the forthcoming season.
The academy is a nursery for players new to league, fostering an environment to quell anxiety and allow newcomers to learn basic league fundamentals in a safe and enjoyable space. Experienced players are upskilled while contributing to a Tuakana-Teina (buddy system) which allows those new to the program to graft onto players with established roots while encouraging leadership capabilities to bloom.
The 30th Anniversary was a chance for Roses past and present to reconnect across the weekend, with a raft of club games played at the club's home ground and included a celebratory dinner, culminating in a Masters match on Sunday 21st July.
“We’d like to congratulate the Richmond Roses on their 30-year milestone and the commitment of all the volunteers who have given rise to the Rosebud to Rose Pathway,” said Duane Mann, Auckland Rugby League’s General Manager of Club’s and Pathways, “The growth and ongoing success of Richmond's Female Pathway is the fruit from the dedication and hard work that allows greatness to grow both on and off the field".
On 19th July 2024, Richmond Rovers Rugby League club commenced the celebration of 30 years of dedication to the development of Women’s Rugby League in Tamaki Makaurau.
The club is steeped in history, first taking shape at Grey Lynn Park in 1913, giving rise to the women’s Richmond Roses team in the early 1990s.
Through the dedication of the club's coaching and management teams, the Rosebuds were cultivated in 2017, and junior teams in the Under 13s, Under 15s and 17s grades flourished for the last 8 years. An achievable and visible pathway has been key in the success of fostering young female players develop and progress into the Premier ranks with many developing Roses players, coaches, and managers taking higher honours within Auckland Rugby League, NZ Rugby League and the NRL with some notable Roses including:
Luisa Avaiki, a Rose and ex-Kiwi Fern, and Auckland Ruby League Immortal inductee. The first woman’s Warriors Coach and current head of NZRL Women's Rugby League, Luisa currently coaches the Richmond Under 16 Rosebuds and is instrumental in the youth girls' Rosebuds pathways.
Ruth Vae, a long-standing player of the Richmond Roses Premier side, is now playing in the Clubs Championship team alongside her daughter Phayezon Vae, they are one of many “mother-daughter duos” produced by the female pathway. Ruth has been coaching the Rosebuds grades for the last 7 years and you can watch her in action including her inspiring post-match interview in the 2024 Women’s Championship Final at Mt Smart on Wednesday 24th July 2024. Despite her team's narrow loss (pictured below), Ruth exudes a love for the game and the well-being of her teammates and the opposition
Sharlene Atai, Kiwi Fern and Assistant Coach of the Cook Island Woman’s Rugby League team. Sharlene is the current Premier Roses Head Coach, her daughters are also playing for Richmond in the Roses and the Rosebuds.
Georgia Hale, Kiwi Fern, Gold Coast Titan’s NRLW Captain, New Zealander of the Year and a fan favourite. Georgia was on hand to send a message to the Roses from Australia for the anniversary celebrations, reminding the sisterhood that “once a Rose, ALWAYS a Rose.”
Tasha Davie helped create the pilot for the girls grades and played for the Roses for many years. When awarded the ARL Women’s Premiership Coach of the Year in 2023, Tasha said she aims to encourage more women to enter the coaching realm.
Anna Lundon has held key roles within the Richmond club from a player to club chair and club secretary. Anna’s work has been tireless and through her tireless efforts the Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club has been able to continue to offer development and playing opportunities year on year.
Luisa Avaiki and Rose Iefata have been dedicated to the continuation of the Rosebuds Preseason Academy, which allows girls aged 10-18 to flourish. The programme is run at. Grey Lynn park starting in November and includes and annual camp to the Willow Park Christian Camp in March each year, known to host many sports camps. The academy builds the confidence and skill base before girls split into teams for the forthcoming season.
The academy is a nursery for players new to league, fostering an environment to quell anxiety and allow newcomers to learn basic league fundamentals in a safe and enjoyable space. Experienced players are upskilled while contributing to a Tuakana-Teina (buddy system) which allows those new to the program to graft onto players with established roots while encouraging leadership capabilities to bloom.
The 30th Anniversary was a chance for Roses past and present to reconnect across the weekend, with a raft of club games played at the club's home ground and included a celebratory dinner, culminating in a Masters match on Sunday 21st July.
“We’d like to congratulate the Richmond Roses on their 30-year milestone and the commitment of all the volunteers who have given rise to the Rosebud to Rose Pathway,” said Duane Mann, Auckland Rugby League’s General Manager of Club’s and Pathways, “The growth and ongoing success of Richmond's Female Pathway is the fruit from the dedication and hard work that allows greatness to grow both on and off the field".
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