The introduction of a new professional women's Super Rugby competition is designed to help broaden the pathways for our top female rugby players and bridge the gap from provincial rugby to the Black Ferns.
Super Rugby Aupiki has been unveiled, with the hope the competition can evolve over the next few years, but the announcement is an important step forward.
Willie Walker has an important enough job on his hands day-to-day, but come next year, he'll be dividing his time between the Silverdale Fire Station and Blues.
And the newly appointed Blues women's coach is out to ensure the women's game stays at the top.
"Other teams around the world have started with their professional comps," Walker tells Newshub. "We're really playing catch-up in that regard."
Super Rugby Aupiki has been a work in progress for years. COVID-19 held it up, but NZ Rugby was keen to launch before next year's World Cup.
"The players are really excited," says NZR head of women's rugby development Cate Sexton. "We had a meeting with them last night, and they're really excited for the opportunities coming up and really grateful."
The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and a combined South Island team will play each other over four weeks in March, with the top two teams to meet in the final.
Chiefs coach Allan Bunting is no stranger to success and hopes to replicate what he built with the Olympic champion Black Ferns Sevens.
"The first thing is creating an environment they want to be a part of every day, and come in with this amazing opportunity in front of them and amazing opportunity to really inspire the young ladies of New Zealand," he says.
Just as important - inspiring female coaches.
All four head coaches are men, but it's understood women will make up most assistant roles.
"I acknowledge it is slow," Sexton adds.
"We don't want to chuck females into roles where it's not going to be a great experience for them."
"Having the courage to have women [as] part of the coaching environments, so they have the confidence to learn and grow," adds Bunting. "This is certainly the time to do it."
The first year of Super Rugby Aupiki will be a balancing act for everyone.
