Back where we started

This weekend is the final of the Farah Palmer Cup in both the Championship and Premiership divisions. Bringing to a close the domestic women's rugby season. 10 long months after the first tragic bronco time would have been run in pre-season.

I've been thinking today about this year. Campaign life means I haven't followed all the teams as closely as I would have liked but there's one team that have been persistent in it's attempts to gain my attention. My old team, the Wellington Pride.

Their CEO asked me to call the livestream of their first home game but unfortunately mahi meant I wasn't available. That didn't stop the invites though. Mere Wilson has been a dog with a bone and with another old girl, Rebecca Luia'ana, now our union's president, means we have started the first tentative steps towards a proper reunion with our team.

To mark the 20 years it's been since Wellington beat Auckland in the final of what was then the women's National Provincial Championship, the 2006 team was there on the field to welcome '26ers and there again in the changing sheds after to celebrate. We haven't been the only province embracing of our old timers this season. Auckland held a special ceremony for former Storm players which was just another flex of how stacked their dynasty is. All of this that marks something bigger than the FPC itself. It's a return to our beginnings.

Old timers is a hallowed date in any rugby club's calendar and one that has meant basically nothing to me my entire rugby life. These days have always been filled with a celebration of many of the same faces that are the reason my old timers don't make show theirs. They might have been the ones that scoffed at the ladies team. That made sure they got last pick of kit and fields. That rallied against their affiliation with the club, the sport and their legacy. There will always be a couple of good eggs of course but we already know him. Chances are he has the titular trophy for his patronage.

It's why one of the most joyful moments at last year's Rugby World Cup, filled my cup and left me heavy hearted. I attended my English club's old timers and there she was. All of her in full voice. Singing the team song across generations. I looked around me and thought, I have never felt a sisterhood like this before. I didn't think I would again.

Which is why, with our province on the eve of it's attempt to claw back into the top division, the invitation to players like me makes this moment bigger than our season. I wore many jerseys in my playing career but none meant as much to me as the black and yellow of my Wellington Pride. It was my greatest honour to play for my city and the rugby that raised me. I couldn't have told you what it would have meant to me to have those rugby mum's in a guard of honour welcoming me to the field in the Premiership final I got to play back in 2015.

I never got that chance, to have those women on the field with me in that moment. But I carried them there anyway. It was them, my rugby family, that was always my why. I would never have gotten anywhere if it weren't for former Wellington Pride players like Marama Tauroa, Moses Virtue, Trudy Matulino, Tia Paasi, Serena Curtis and Kourtney Kea. And countless more who sharpened their iron to make them the best of us.

So tomorrow I will stand on the other side. Holding the space of where we have been, to help mark the progress of where we are going. I will cheer for them loudly and perhaps, that will be enough to bring us all home.

With you,
Alice

PS. Kick off for the Championship final is at 12.05pm tomorrow. If you're in Wellington, get down to the Stadium! Otherwise tune in free to air on TVNZ+.

The Premiership final between Canterbury and Auckland kicks off afterwards at 4.05pm and will also be free to air on TVNZ+.