Papakura will field a premier women’s team in the Auckland competition in 2021, giving Counties Manukau three clubs in the grade.
The Papakura outfit will join 2020 runners-up Manurewa and Ardmore Marist in the premier competition. It marks the first time Counties Manukau has had three clubs competing in the highest grade.
Growth in the women’s game continues to explode around the country and it is no different in the Counties Manukau region with more players and more teams likely this year.
The 15-a-side Reserves competition is likely to feature teams from Puni and Patumahoe while Drury are hoping to enter a side again in 2021.
There has been a push to try and make a 10-a-side team at Weymouth while basic discussions have been had with a couple of other clubs about attempting to put a women’s side together.
Meanwhile the resurgence of Papakura under new coaches Kerry Petrie and Pat Flavell is yielding fruit. The club looks likely to enter a Premier Reserves side again in 2021 after failing to finish the 2020 campaign. There is also the hope of entering a Championship side in the old Premier 3 competition with a select group of players wanting to play at that level.
In a further boost Steelers representative Dylan Leckner has returned for 2021.
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