Women stars out to play

Lifting the profile of women in rugby sevens is the aim of all players and teams in this year’s Sevens in Heaven women’s tournament.

With a record high number of 9 women’s team – things are looking up for women’s rugby here in the Cook Islands.

And with the inaugural Cook Islands national women’s sevens rugby side bringing home the plate from Borneo just this week – there will be renewed confidence in the local sides as national players filter back into their teams.

Their recent international experience and those of Kiwi women’s rugby world champion players here on the rock will make for a slick women’s competition not to be missed.

The Titikaveka Rehab Ravens boasts some of the biggest names in women’s rugby.

The team includes New Zealand women’s world cup winners Justine Lavea, Aroha Savage and Renee Witcliff.

They will be up against some of the islands best players and speedsters like Patricia Taea, Edith Nicholas and Tai Wichman to name a few.

The Club Raro Stormers also have some of the island’s emerging women’s rugby stars and likewise the wild west T&M Crushers team.

Visiting Waitakere Nesians certainly know how to have fun but don’t be fooled by their rants about McDonalds – that could just be a ploy to fool their opponents.

The College Rifles women’s team are another new team to the Rarotonga tournament and they are not just here for a tan.

And you can guarantee that the two teams from the central north island of New Zealand are a hardy lot so keep an eye out for the Hastings Rugby and the Napier Tech Rugby teams.

No longer are the women’s teams and games ‘fillers’ in the international tournament as their games will be just as thrilling as the men.

Pick a team and cheer them on at Sevens in Heaven.