CFA is now the major partner of Women’s rugby in Victoria, after entering into an historic three-year partnership with Rugby Victoria.
It is the first partnership of its kind in Australian grassroots rugby and a landmark occasion for women’s rugby in the state.
The move comes as CFA seeks to support the increased participation of women in local community organisations across Victoria, in line with CFA’s broader diversity and inclusion objectives.
The growth areas in rugby align with the growth areas CFA services across the state, making this partnership a natural fit. This initiative enables opportunities for greater regional engagement for both organisations. The partnership will support increased opportunities and pathways for female players to progress to play the game at the highest levels. This will include the newly established Melbourne Rebels Super W team, Rugby Victoria’s Premier Women’s competition, the Lindroth Cup and Female 7s programs. The partnership will also provide a regional engagement program that builds capacity within Rugby Victoria’s regional clubs and provides an opportunity for greater regional connection and participation through Club XVs and 7s tournaments and events.
Rugby Victoria and CFA share values that are strongly aligned, characterised by an approach which prioritises the needs of the community above all else. Respect and integrity are two key shared values, while ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of our communities is paramount.
CFA CEO Paul Smith said CFA had chosen to partner with Rugby Victoria as a practical way to both support women’s participation in community organisations, and create new and exciting connections between local sport-loving communities and CFA.
“We want to create more diversity in our connections to the communities on whom we rely to enable us protect life and property,” Mr Smith said.
“We have deep roots across Victoria and this initiative is a practical way for CFA to further connect with and support all our communities.
"Through new linkages, we can deliver our fire and community safety messages to people from a wider range of backgrounds. Connections help to break down barriers, so through sport we can also seek to grow local participation in, and diversity of, our CFA brigades.
“Women’s involvement in rugby is rapidly growing, and this is especially the case in CFA’s growth areas such as Tarneit, Shepparton and Bendigo.
“CFA and Rugby Victoria have a strong alignment of values and both organisations are committed to embracing and encouraging diversity and inclusion.”
Rugby Victoria General Manager Chris Evans said: “This is a momentous partnership that reflects our unwavering commitment to resource, support and engage the Female segment of our growing participation base and broader rugby community.
“This partnership is a first for Victorian Rugby that will be sure to influence and drive significant outcomes in the community but specifically in the female elite pathways and high-performance sectors of our sport.
“Furthermore, we are delighted to partner with an organisation like CFA with natural synergies to our own strategic values and organisational vision which will in term ensure Rugby Victoria continues to be a trailblazer within the Victorian sports industry”.
Womens’ Rugby Development Association President, Annmarie Collins adds “We are thrilled with this announcement and are very grateful for the work Rugby Victoria and the CFA have done in making this come about.
“This partnership will increase the development opportunities for female rugby players of all ages and will assist in growing participation across the divisions.
“This is such an exciting time for women and girls to be involved in rugby in Victoria and with this support we can only see it growing further.”
