• The NZ rugby union is to invest $500,000 in womens rugby.
• NZ is to play Canada and the USA in a women's rugby Tri Nation series.
• Divisional champs start (North A & B, Central and South).

New Zealand world champion Black Ferns have crushed the American Eagles 65-5 in their women's rugby international in Palmerston North on tuesday night. The home side were never in any trouble as they ran in 11 tries in all. 

The individual star for the Black Ferns was fullback Tammi Wilson who scored 6 tries to take her career test tally to 15.

USA in First-Ever Loss to Canada

Canadian winger Christine Thompson's second try, scored three minutes from full time, gave the Maple Leafs an 18-15 win over the United States in the opening match of a triangular tournament hosted by New Zealand. 

The US took an 10-8 lead to half, but failed to convert pressure into points throughout the contest, especially with a wind advantage in the second period. Inside  center Patty Jervey scored two tries for the Eagles and fullback Shalanda Baker added another, but none were converted. 

The historic win, Canada's first-ever victory over the USA women's team, largely came against the run of play, according to Palmerston North's Evening Standard. But the Canadians finished fitter, the paper said, scoring the winner on an 80-yard movement. 

In a back-and-forth match with five lead changes, the US backs "looked superior, especially fullback Baker, second five Jervey, and scrumhalf Lisa Rowe. The United States had a sturdier pack and camped on the Canadian line in the first half, into the gale too, but just couldn't score," the Standard said. 

"Both sides passed too much ball back into the forwards instead of going wide," the paper said. 

Canada next faces world champion New Zealand on Saturday the 16th, the US, runners-up in the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup, take on the Black Ferns on Tuesday the 19th. 

Final: Canada 18 United States 15 (halftime USA 10-8) 
Canada: Tries: Christine Thompson (2), Maureen McMahon Pens: Moira Shiels 
USA: Tries: Patty Jervey (2), Shalanda Baker 

Berkeley, California - Lock Nancy Fitz heads a United States squad of 22 set to compete in a three-way international tournament hosted by New Zealand. 

Following August's injury-time win over archrival Canada, the US will continue retooling a side hit hard

by retirement after a runner-up finish at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup. Fourteen of the squad

headed to New Zealand have 5 caps or less. 

Thirteen of the Triangular squad took part in August's Can-Am, including front rower MA Sorensen, halfback

Lisa Rowe, and center Patty Jervey. But flanker Dianne Schnapp heads the list of absentees, with fullback Laura Cabrera are also missing. 

The USA, 1998 WRWC semifinalists Canada, and world champion New Zealand will meet in a round-robin format, playing matches in Palmerston North between October 13 and 19. The Eagles take on Canada on Wednesday the 13th and the hosts on Tuesday the 19th. 

Wednesday 13 October - Canada v United States - 5.00pm 

Saturday 16 October - New Zealand v Canada - 2.30pm 

Tuesday 19 October - New Zealand v United States - 5.00pm 

In the inaugural women's NPC rugby final, Auckland has beaten Wellington 22-0 at Athletic Park in Wellington. The Auckland Team, boosted by a number of Black Ferns, scored 2 tries in the first 10 minutes of the match, including one to right-winger Diane Kahura. The Northerners scored 4 tries to take out the championship in style, after they led 15-0 at half time.

Waikato women have wrapped up their inaugural NPC rugby campaign with a hard fought 18-15 win over Northland to make it three wins from five games in the regional championship. Those three wins aren't enough to see Waikato in the championship semifinals. Auckland and Bay of Plenty are first and second, Auckland beating Bay of Plenty at the weekend, and will be the semifinalists from the northern region with Waikato finishing third, their only two losses coming by way of those two sides. Auckland play Otago and Bay of Plenty will meet Wellington in the playoffs this weekend. On saturday at Willoughby Park Bay of Plenty made the better start, picking up a try to loose forward Suzy Dawson after just five minutes. A Katrina Ennor penalty goal narrowed the gap for Waikato before a Nicky Callagham try gave the home side a narrow 8-5 advantage at half time. In the second half Waikato were able to set a strong platform up front and had the Northland pack struggling at times. The front row combination of prop Regina Sheck and hooker Toni Konui made the most of Waikato's strength up front and were rewarded with a try a piece to take Waikato to a 18-5 lead. But the visitors came back strongly in the latter stages. Fafita Hala picked up her side's second try 10 minutes out, and right on full time Emerena Marsh brought the visitors to within three points with Northland's third try. Waikato assistant coach Olive Utiera was reasonably happy with the way the team went, although the side did struggle against the bigger Northland forwards at times, but she was a little disappointed that the Waikato side went off the boil in the last 15 minutes.

Waikato suffered their second successive heavy defeat in the women's NPC, thumped 69-0 by hot favourites Auckland at Eden Park. Auckland, boasting 12 Black Ferns, picked up their 24th successive win since 1994 in Saturday's match. Auckland and New Zealand halfback Monique Hirovanaa scored three tries, but it was the pace of the three Black Ferns at the back - Diane Kahura, Tammi Wilson, and Louisa Wall - who dominated the match. The trio had too much speed for a Waikato side that put up a fight despite the size of the scoreline.

Waikato's unbeaten run in the national provincial championships ended at the Rotorua International Staduium. Waikato were narrowly beaten 17-13 by Bay of Plenty, who ran in three tries and came from behind at half time on Saturday. Both teams battled strongly in the first quarter of the game with the deadlock being broken in the 20th minute with a try to Bay of Plenty's Tamaku Paul. Waikato quickly responded with Emma Jensen landing two first half-penalty goals to give the visitors a narrow 6-5 lead at the break. Waikato's lead was shortlived and it only needed four minutes of the second half for the home side to snatch back the advantage with a try to Maria Richards, with Kellie Kiwi kicking her only conversion of the game. Bay of Plenty then went further ahead with their third try through Maata Young and it appeared the home side was in control. But a fine 40m run by center Jody Darley, which saw her step out of three tackles, had her scoring under the posts, with Jensen adding the conversion. Darley's try was her third in as many games in the NPC and she now shares the Waikato try scoring with loose forward Megan Adler. Waikato face their toughest test this weekend when they are away to unbeaten Auckland.

The NZRFU has confirmed a women's regional provincial rugby competition and an international tri-series involving the Black Ferns later this year. 

Starting next month, the regional competition will involve 14 teams in three sections, followed by semifinals

and finals. 

At the end of the competition, four regional teams will be selected for a week-long tournament in Hamilton in

late September. 

Trial teams for the Black Ferns will then be announced on October 4, before the tri-series also involving the United States and Canada in Palmerston North from October 13-19. 

The NZRFU have made a financial commitment of more than $300,000 to women's rugby this season. 

While Eric Rush's New Zealand men almost blew their challenge for the Hong Kong Sevens in the first group game, the Kiwi girls, including his cousin Annaleah, continued their triumphant run.

For the first time, the women's final was staged at the main Hong Kong Stadium to help freshen first-day frolics that concluded in the grand style of an entertainment extravaganza for the 10,000 spectators.

Before the music and fireworks, the women had won the applause, matching some of the men's group games for nimbleness and skill. New Zealand defeated the United States, who had outpaced England 24-5 in the semi-final, 29-0. The victory continued a dominance of the sport which began last year in the 15-a-side World Cup.

Details

Women's Cup, semi-finals: Australia 0, New Zealand 38-US 24, England 5. Final: New Zealand 29, US 0.

The management team also includes selectors Sue Garden-Bachop. and Colin Stevens. Stevens has coached the Otago women's team for the last two years, and Garden-Bachop, a former New Zealand representative,recently graduated from the NZRFU's Massey coaching course.

Other Results: Fiji 62, Thailand 0-S Africa 29, China 7-Australia 67, Taiwan 0-New Zealand 17, Croatia 12-France 52, Sri Lanka 7-Samoa 59, Singapore 5-Scotland 21, Tonga 12-Canada 38, US 5-Japan 14, Papua New Guinea 31-Ireland 20, Hong Kong 20-Argentina 24, Morocco 12-S Korea 31, Uruguay 0