Kennedy Simon, left, and Ruahei Demant of New Zealand lift the trophy for the fans. Photo: Photosport / Alan Lee
The Black Ferns have been greeted by hundreds of excited fans in downtown Auckland this afternoon after winning last night's Rugby World Cup final.
People gathered outside Commercial Bay to wave banners, hold poi and scream and clap for the team who narrowly beat England 34-31 at Eden Park.
Some fans said it was not just a win on the field but an historical milestone.
"My 3-year-old, she calls them [the Black Ferns] strong girls and she asked me to come. It's amazing what it represents for this generation that will grow up having seen amazing women on stage, celebrating their win."
Another fan told RNZ: "It's ground breaking to see the movement that supported the wāhine and I'm really proud to be part of it."
Another said: "[It was] exciting, pretty intense, especially the last little bit but it's just so important for the sport."
Portia Woodman signs an autograph for a fan. Photo: Photosport / Alan Lee
Another supporter told RNZ: "I feel so touched by all of it, I actually cried."
Michelle Wong who came from Christchurch to watch the quarterfinal and final said no words could explain her emotions during the competition.
"It was unreal, unbelievable, there's no words, it was sensational. I'm still fizzing, I could talk about it all day.
"I'm a massive fan and a player myself. It was amazing to be in a sold-out Eden Park, it proves that we can do it. It shows that people do love women's rugby and people do want to come out and support it."
Other fans also told RNZ they had managed to convert other rugby supporters to watching and enjoying the women's game.
One of the young fans shows her appreciation. Photo: RNZ / Rayssa Almeida
Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby is promising to increase investment in the women's game following the win.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson who attended the event today said changes were coming for the domestic competition and the international calendar from next year.
"We'd like to see if we could get to a stage where we may play a crossover series in the finals with Australia [for Super Rugby] and then in time build that competition to involve Australia and the Pacific maybe into territories like the United States and Japan."
Mark Robinson appeared at the event alongside the victorious Black Ferns. Photo: Photosport / Alan Lee
England led for much of the match and many of their players were in tears after they blew a chance to win in the final seconds.
England coach Simon Middleton says the Red Roses left everything out on the park at Eden Park last night.
He said the Black Ferns were worthy champions - a sentiment many were keen to ensure the Black Ferns understood in central Auckland today.
Photo: RNZ / Veronica Schmidt
Since winning the crown, co-captain Ruahei Demant has praised the backing her Black Ferns team received on their way to winning the title but called for more support to help further grow the sport.
"The level of support we've received from our country has been really overwhelming," Demant said.
"As players none of us really expected this. It's still quite surreal to turn up to Eden Park ... to walk out of the tunnel and you can't even think because it's so loud.
"In the past when we've had the opportunity to travel abroad and play teams like England or France in their countries, their fans are next level.
"I was quite worried when they announced we had a home World Cup. But the way the country's turned out, you couldn't have scripted it. It's been unreal."
New Zealand have now won the title at six of the nine World Cup tournaments played and prevailed despite the significant advances made by teams from the northern hemisphere.
The scene in Auckland today. Photo: RNZ / Veronica Schmidt
England, who had gone 30 games unbeaten ahead of Saturday's final, and France had both handed the Black Ferns heavy defeats last year during their tour of Europe and Demant called for more exposure for her team against other leading nations.
"It would be awesome to get more fixtures against northern hemisphere teams - as we've seen the style of game they play is very different to ours," she said.
"More resources, I guess, thrown into women's rugby, so that we can be taken a bit more seriously and put more time and effort into our footy."
Black Fern Stacey Fluhler poses for a selfie with some fans. Photo: Photosport / Alan Lee
- RNZ / Reuters
