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FWC on Sport Nation guide'Professionalism is really showing itself': Black Fern great praises womens rugby growth
Elena Abbott • June 29th, 2026 2:18 pm
Matatū's Hannah King | Photo: Photosport
Super Rugby Aupiki has reached a new level, with the weekend double-header bringing the fans and excitement to Pukekohe.
Former Black Fern Les Elder told Scotty & Izzy on Monday the quality of the women’s game is evolving, bringing tighter competition and impressive plays to the forefront of matches.
“It's the most athletic I've seen our ladies in the Aupiki competition. They're huge, they're powerful, they look fit, they looked physically conditioned, and then the skill set has improved,” she said.
The Saturday fixtures saw the Hurricanes Poua beat the Chiefs Manawa for the first time since the competition’s inception in 2022, finishing in an upset 34-29.
Hurricanes Poua Ayesha Leti-I’iga during Chiefs Manawa vs Hurricanes Poua | Photo: Photosport
Elder said the match reflected the elevation of women’s rugby, with the competition and surrounding hype growing alongside the players.
“The professionalism is really showing itself now so I definitely think this is the best.
“It was an awesome occasion having four teams in one location, playing some good rugby with a couple of upsets was really, really cool,” she expressed.
The second fixture saw a top-of-the-table clash with Matatū and second-place Blues Women, where Matatū secured the victory 27-21.
The Black Ferns are the standard for NZ Rugby | Scotty & Izzy
Close-scoring games makes Elder think the future of Super Rugby Aupiki looks promising, with the Poua and Manawa quickly catching up to the ‘stacked’ Blues and Matatū.
“When I look at where the change is made, I look at teams like Chiefs Manawa and Poua because a lot of those girls are fully amateur outside of Aupiki.”
Listen to the full interview below:
