PremiumOpinionOpinion byAlice SoperContributing Sports Writer·NZ Herald·10 Sep, 2026 05:30 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.Canada fans celebrate a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and Canada in 2022. Photo / PhotosportMany used to call it a distraction. Linking players’ performance to their online presence. Critiquing athletes who used their downtime to share their experiences with others.
And yet social media is now clearly the glue helping fans stick with their favourites. Women in sport were the early adopters but as
