Black Ferns pioneer Anna Richards: 'We had to start somewhere'

7:15 pm on 20 August 2025

Jonty Dine, Sports Reporter

Black Ferns Anna Richards scores a try at the semi-final of the Women's Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and France at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton, Canada on 12 September, 2006. Photo: Paul Seiser

Anna Richards remembers her first Rugby World Cup well, even if most people didn't know about or want to acknowledge its existence.

The media didn't cover it. The International Rugby Board refused to sanction it. The players had to fund themselves. And just 3000 fans turned up to watch the final at Cardiff Arms Park.

"Back then it was really tough for anybody to actually know what was happening because the media had no interest. The media was a massive problem. They weren't interested and people back then were big newspaper readers. So if it wasn't in the paper, no-one knew about it."

Known as the "Gal Blacks", New Zealand and the other competing nations were forced to fund their own way to Wales, and weren't exactly given VIP treatment upon arrival, with substandard training facilities and changing rooms.

"We played our pool games out at Llanharan which is a little town, so crowds weren't massive, but we were lucky it was in Wales, because they're massive rugby lovers. Once people heard what was going on, they were really supportive."

The women were even forced to bring their next tournament forward to 1994 so as not to clash with the men.

Though the lack of fanfare was a tough pill to swallow, Richards takes great pride in seeing the rise of today's game.

Ferns celebration Anna Richards during the Womens Rugby World Cup Final at the between New Zealand and England at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada on 17 September 2006. Photo: Paul Seiser

"It's always disappointing, but it's no surprise because we were just a fledgling sport and you've got to start somewhere and it was cool to be part of the very first World Cup that the woman had."

Things have come a long way in 34 years.

This year's Rugby World Cup in England is already setting new records, with tens of thousands of tickets sold before the tournament even kicks off.

"Now it's so widely covered by the media, there's live coverage around the world, it's just incredible. And every World Cup gets bigger than the last."

Richards, a four-time World Cup winner, credits the success of today's game to the visionaries who organised that first tournament, Deborah Griffin, Sue Dorrington, Alice Cooper, and Mary Forsyth, as well as the women brave enough to take part.

"It's great to be a pioneer and be there at the start, but it's also wonderful to see where it is now."