Welcome along to The Spinoff’s live updates for October 26, made possible by our members, I’m Stewart Sowman-Lund. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nz
Kiri Allan dubs NZ Rugby scheduling flub “disgraceful”
Justice minister Kiri Allan has criticised New Zealand Rugby for scheduling an All Blacks match at the same time as the Black Ferns’ quarterfinal, after the organisation admitted to simply not considering the World Cup draw when agreeing to a kick-off time with Japan Rugby.
“This clash was avoidable, and frankly, disgraceful,” Allan said on Twitter this afternoon. She then pointed to the Fifa World Cup (being hosted here in 2023) as an example of world-class planning and consideration.
I’ll be supporting our @BlackFerns this weekend in Whangarei. But @NZRugby, this clash was avoidable, and frankly, disgraceful. For tips on how to plan a world standard womens World Cup, suggest you take some tips from @FIFAWorldCup who set the standard last w/e w their draw. pic.twitter.com/rlpHosgXuO
— Kiri Allan (@KiriAllan) October 26, 2022
The Black Ferns will play Wales in Whangārei with a 7.30pm kick-off. Meanwhile, the All Blacks will start their Northern tour by playing the Brave Blossoms in Japan with a 6.50pm NZT kick-off.
The Spinoff’s editor Madeleine Chapman has written that the clash is simply the latest in a series of decisions highlighting NZR’s apparent disinterest in the women’s World Cup, most notably a lack of available supporter gear, minimal attendance or online support from the All Blacks and now, competing agains the biggest team in the country for viewers.