'Mata who? Matatū': From start-up to stadium crowds – the rise of South Island women's rugby

PremiumAnna LeaskSenior Journalist - Crime and Justice·NZ Herald·10 Jul, 2026 05:00 PM18 mins to read‌Sarah Munro of Matatū, a women's rugby team representing the South Island, talks about how she built the team from scratch as a standalone women's brand and movement.“Follow no one.”It’s more than a slogan at Matatū, the professional women’s rugby team representing the South Island; it’s the philosophy that has defined general manager Sarah Munro’s mission to build a women’s rugby club from scratch.

While others followed established men’s brands, Matatū chose a harder path: creating