Massey Maidens short of players

Female students with a penchant for contact sport could do worse than link up with the Massey University Maidens team.

Manawatu badly needs a beefed-up Massey side to ensure there are four vibrant teams in the women's club competition this winter.

Kia Toa, Linton Army and the Falcons, formerly the Evergreens, are up to strength, but the concern is over the students.

The Falcons have a link with the Feilding Falcons rugby league club, but will be affiliated to the Manawatu Rugby Union. They also have some Taranaki players and a few from the strong Kia Toa side.

The four teams will play a three-round season, the first and last in Manawatu and the combined second round with Hawke's Bay, who are believed to have five teams ready to go.

Massey won't play the Hawke's Bay round, because it clashes with exams and student holidays.

For the second year, the Eketahuna club side is playing in Wellington.

The women's season kicks off with a 10s pre-season tournament on March 27.

The Manawatu union is arranging a home-and-away tri-series with Wellington and Hawke's Bay for the rep team in lieu of the national competition, which has been scrapped this year. There is also a chance of a one-off game against Auckland.

Manawatu's two leading players, hooker Ruth McKay and five-eighth Selica Winiata, are still with the province and hope to make the Black Ferns side for the World Cup in England.

- © Fairfax NZ News