Long-time Black Ferns are revelling in the fact that from next year they'll have their own Super Rugby championship to compete for.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Wednesday a four-team women's competition called Super Rugby Aupiki with the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and a combined South Island franchise governed by the Crusaders set to take off in March.
Black Ferns captain Eloise Blackwell told Breakfast on Thursday morning it was "special" to hear the announcement while the Black Ferns were in camp.
"We got to see the announcement together and it got the feelings and goosebumps going, knowing what we're going to be part of next year," she said.
The four clubs will contract 28 players for the four-week competition with the opening round scheduled for March 5.
Blackwell said the contracts are a big step up for the women's game.
"That's huge for us and the girls to be recognised for their abilities on the field," she said.
"I just think it's awesome given we've had to manage full-time jobs off the field as well."
Black Ferns teammate Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate added it's a chance for them to be role models to the next generation of female rugby players - a role the pair take seriously as teachers.
"It's awesome to see and hear the questions [students] ask about the Black Ferns and hearing them wanting to be a part of it as well," Ngata-Aerengamate said.
"We just talk about where it takes us and hopefully one day our students get to do the same."
The competition comes after the Blues and Chiefs played a one-off Women's Super Rugby fixture in May featuring many Black Ferns and upcoming New Zealand talent.
Cate Sexton, NZR's head of women’s rugby development, said on Wednesday she hoped the competition will bridge the gap between Black Ferns and provincial players after lopsided scores in the FPC following the introduction of more teams in recent years.
“I think the key for the next two years is to build our domestic product and work on that,” she said.
“It's really critical that when we're asking women to go professional and part-time, the surrounding support is right.”
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