ACTIVIST ADVANCES WOMEN’S RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

Vania Woflgramm is a New Zealand born Samoan, whose parents hail from the villages of Safotu and Lauli’i in Sāmoa.

A former Black Fern, Vania has continued her rugby career off the field in the position of Womens Rugby Development Manager (Blues Region) for NZ Rugby. A fierce advocate for women’s sport, Vania has been instrumental in the remarkable participation results in female rugby and has been a key driver in creating a space for Pacific and Māori female rugby athletes by way of the Pacific Aotearoa Cup (PAC) Tournament.

The PAC Tournament has a focus on equal playing opportunities for Māori and Pacific Islander girls and women, a Tight Five section was included to enable every player to be involved, and this brought with another dynamic to the tournament, with the entertainment value being second to none. Vania seeks to empower the next generation of rugby players by providing avenues where cultural intelligence and skill development are part of the tournament experience.

For GSMP: Empowering Women through Sports 2019, Vania will be mentored by Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Professional Tennis, and Cindy Lupkey, Meeting Manager, for USTA and their team in New York City.