This International Women's Day, we chatted with one of the women driving the growth of rugby in Victoria.
Marita Naea has spent countless hours enriching the Endeavour Hills community, providing a welcoming home for everyone who visits Frog Hollow Reserve.
Marita: My Endeavour Journey started back in 2003 – when my husband Presley was introduced to Endeavour Hills Rugby Club and switched from playing basketball to rugby union.
Back then I was a wife to a rugby player, then became a mother to a rugby player when our son was old enough to play rugby. I too played rugby for a little, but my short lived rugby career came to an end due to a knee injury which saw me return to just being a spectator again.
I started moving up the unpaid but rewarding ladder or voluntary work from being a spectator, was then asked to be team manager for our sons team. Duties included, washing jerseys, supplying oranges, wiping tears (and more), until I had the support of parents who had offered to rotate these duties.
18 years later, I am still heavily involved down at the nest in my current role which I co-share with Aimiti Masoe – as Junior Registrar and Junior Coordinator.
I am now also a member of WRDA (Women’ Rugby Development Association) and in addition have been involved with our Eagles Women’s team. As there is always a need for volunteers for any sporting club, we rely heavily on the support of our members.
Credit to ALL our Volunteers and Committee both past and present.
Marita: As a club we are super excited with the growth of the women’s Game at our club.
It's very important because it gives a pathway for women (especially our youth girls). It gives the opportunity for development and growth and hopefully inspires them to play in our Senior Women’s team which we are rebuilding this year.
Those players will hopefully have the potential to move up and play for Melbourne Rebels Super W Team in the future.
Marita: It's very important for all clubs to offer female teams to get them engaged with community rugby and give them a sense of belonging.
It helps them feel included and is a platform for them to show their talent. Women play a big part in our sport on and off the field and it all starts from our youth girls because that's the future of Women’s rugby.
Marita: SuperW has played, and will continue to play, a huge role in growing interest in the women’s game from a clubs perspective.
Our numbers have increased in the last 3-4 years from just a few youth girls to officially have our Women’s team this year. Some of players who have transitioned from playing in our Youth Girls U18 will now be playing in the Women’ team.
They have played a huge role in rebuilding our women’s team which is a great transition for us as a club and we have another core of youth girls age u14-16s who are coming through, so it's a very positive sign for our women and youth girls this year.
Marita: The future looks very bright for Endeavour Hills. We are a club that prides ourselves on culture, development, respect and loyalty.
I believe with these core values, supported by qualified coaches within our club, will help us continue to grow.
Endeavour Hills are backing the future of women in Rugby and will continually seek opportunities for growth within our club and the wider Victorian Rugby community.
The female talent we have coming through should be show cased and celebrated.
