PremiumOpinionOpinion byAlice SoperContributing Sports Writer·nzme·16 Jul, 2026 05:01 PM4 mins to readAlice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women's sports.Black Ferns players receive more online abuse than their male counterparts. Photo / SmartFrameFor our top female rugby players, the tough hits don’t stop when they step off the field.
A report on last year’s women’s Rugby World Cup has dropped, revealing the full scope of online abuse recorded during the landmark event. World Rugby first introduced its Social Media Protection Service for
