Kiwi Ferns property destroyed by fire ahead of RLWC opener

RLWC: New Zealand v France Where: York Community Stadium, York. When: Thursday, November 3, 6 a.m. (New Zealand time). Live: Spark Sports

With 48 hours to go before their first Rugby League World Cup game against France, almost half of the Kiwi Ferns have lost their training equipment and personal belongings due to smoke damage at their facility. coaching. No one was present in the affected area at the time.

“It was an unfortunate incident but the issue was quickly resolved and the training ground is in the process of bringing the facilities back online,” said NZRL CEO Greg Peters.

“No outdoor facilities were affected and the staff at the training ground were exceptional in supporting us.”

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“In the meantime, our main priority is the welfare of the Ferns and ensuring the team is supported through this.”

Kiwi Ferns head coach Ricky Henry said the players were training when the fire broke out and were forced to leave all their belongings behind and return to their hotel in full gear. coaching.

“We were there doing an opposite session and the alarm went off,” he said.

“The guys came out and said we couldn’t get into the building and that was about it.

“It was late afternoon and in England it’s much colder at the moment than in New Zealand. So we made the decision to jump on the bus and let our management team take care of all the details of the fire.

Henry saw no fire or smoke coming from the buildings, but at 5 p.m. it is already dark in England at this time of year.

He said team management is now trying to figure out what was lost.

“We’re doing an inventory report there, to figure out what’s needed. I don’t know the details of what’s missing at the moment, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll get a better view there.

“But the girls are pretty optimistic about things. It’s something that we can’t control, it’s happened and it’s a group that has come together and knows that we have a job to do, so it can’t be a distraction for us, to win Wednesday evening.

Henry said they still don’t know if they could use the training center for the rest of the World Cup or if they have to find a new location.

“We’re getting a read on that as well,” he said.

“I know the fields are good and hopefully we’ll find out the next day or so.

“Tomorrow we have our captain’s race, but it’s on the pitch that we play.”

“Some have gone well over 24 hours without being able to contact loved ones except through a staff member’s phone.

“Sometimes these freak crashes happen, and this one was out of anyone’s control. NZRL is working to repair the damage, and as a team we will rally, support and focus on what lies ahead.

Meanwhile, Henry has named his squad to play France on Thursday morning New Zealand time, with NRLW Premiership-winning center Shanice Parker and strikers Otesa Pule and Brianna Clark making their New Zealand debuts.

Parker, who plays for the Knights, will join Page McGregor in centers. McGregor made his Kiwi Ferns Test debut earlier this year against Mate Ma’a Tonga.

Second rower Pule and prop Clark add strength to starting line-up of Brisbane’s Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala and Amber-Paris Hall, Māori All Stars’ Mya Hill-Moana and Roxette Murdoch-Masila and Georgia Hale of Gold Coast named in the lock.

NRLW winner Dally M Raecene McGregor and veteran Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly are named in the halves, while captain Krystal Rota leads from hooker.

IN ONE LOOK

Kiwi Ferns: Apii Nicholls, Katelyn Vahakolo, Shanice Parker, Page McGregor, Madison Bartlett, Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly, Raecene McGregor; Mya Hill-Moana, Krystal Rota, Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, Roxette Murdoch-Masila, Amber-Paris Hall, Georgia Hale. Exchange: Nita Maynard, Charlotte Scanlan, Otesa Pule, Brianna Clark. Reservations: Crystal Tamarua, Mele Hufanga.