Women's Rugby

The Oceania Rise Rugby Women’s Governance and Mentoring Programme has been designed to provide high-quality and tailored governance content specific to women in rugby leadership across Oceania. Between 2023-2024, three cohorts of up to 24 women (total of up to 72 women) will be engaged in this region-wide initiative.

Funded by PacificAus Sports, this programme provides a range of professional and personal development opportunities and cross-Union networking to support women achieve their rugby leadership ambitions. This includes:

Institute of Directors New Zealand (IoDNZ) facilitated Governance Essentials Course featuring live virtual sessions, course workbook, and online self-paced learning (IoDNZ Finance Essentials)
Small group mentoring with an outstanding female leader in rugby from Oceania
The join fee waived on a one-year membership with IoDNZ (optional)
Ongoing engagement with the Oceania Women in Rugby Network
Invitation to become a mentor for other emerging female leaders in rugby
Certificate upon completion of all programme components

Participants will take part in an interactive, collaborative learning experience to engage with programme content focusing on governance essentials, finance essentials, and addressing challenges from a perspective that acknowledges the intersection of culture, gender norms, and rugby environments.

The Summer 2024 programme is facilitated by:

In addition to the virtually facilitated core components, each participant will be assigned to a small group (2-4 women per group) to work closely with an experienced mentor over a series of three two-hour sessions. Mentors will be matched with participants based on each individual’s role, leadership ambitions and challenges that they are aiming to overcome.

The Summer 2024 mentoring program features an impressive lineup of female leaders, including board members from various member unions, World Rugby Scholars, executive-level sports administrators, leaders from the Oceania Women in Rugby Network, and alumni of past governance courses.

The programme will run for a duration of approximately two months (dependent upon the scheduling of each group’s mentoring sessions).

Eligibility

The programme is to support dedicated women to further develop their rugby leadership potential. The Summer 2024 programme is open to women in Oceania who:

Currently fulfil one or more of:

Hold a position on a rugby board, committee, or sub-committee (national, provincial, or club level);
Hold a full-time role in a rugby organisation (national, provincial, or club level);
Aspire to hold a position on a rugby board, committee, or sub-committee and have potential to do so within the next three years.

2. Are available to attend course sessions on the dates provided in the Summer 2024 Programme Outline.

3. Agree to contribute to the Oceania Women in Rugby Network upon programme completion.

Participant Contribution

Each participant must commit to the following:

Attend facilitated sessions and small group mentoring sessions
Provide advance notice if she is unable to attend a session and arrange appropriate alternatives with programme coordinators
Complete course readings and self-paced Finance Essentials course
Contact programme coordinators if additional support is needed to complete course activities
Actively engage with her program peers and mentor
Complete and submit course learning activities
Continued contribution to the Oceania Women in Rugby Network upon programme completion
Respect and support the confidentiality of shared discussions

How to Apply

Complete the Application Form
Obtain a letter of reference from a relevant rugby stakeholder
Attach your current C.V.
Submit all documents in the Application Form strictly by 5PM AEST 8^th November 2024.