If they win against Sydney University at Fraser Park on Saturday 7 December, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s premier women’s football team are off to China to play in the 2025 University World Cup.
We talk to team captain Sammie Senior and coach Alex Brodie about this opportunity to represent their University on the world stage.
“I have played football since I could walk,” says Sammie, who is in her final year of a Bachelor of Architecture at Te Herenga Waka. After years of junior and club football, Sammie represented New Zealand in the U16 World Cup in China. She stepped away from football when she moved to Wellington, before her flatmate convinced her to try a pre-season training with Victoria University of Wellington Association Football Club (VUWAFC).
“Two years on, and I’m still here. I love my degree but it is very demanding. Between long studio sessions and intense projects, training is the perfect escape. Getting outside for some exercise and laughs with friends is what you need to balance life and study,” says Sammie.
The team that will challenge the University of Sydney has only been together for two months—though many play together for VUWAFC. Sammie doesn’t see this as disadvantageous, saying “our mindset makes all the difference.” It’s this mindset which saw the team beat both University of Canterbury and University of Auckland to make the Oceania playoffs.
Coach, alumnus Alex Brodie, has been coaching football and futsal on and off for 10 years, and is also no stranger to representing his country overseas. He represented New Zealand in the World Futsal Championships in Brazil in 2016.
“I think our team brings a real determination to fight for each other and put everything on the pitch. There are some players with a real X-factor about them and I back them to bring that out in the upcoming game,” says Alex.
They have been training hard with the support of University Recreation who have been ensuring access to the Boyd-Wilson indoor and outdoor turf. “The team have been amazing in the arrangements for the fixture against University of Sydney,” says Alex.
Both Sammie and Alex are expecting a strong challenge from Sydney’s team. Sammie says that Australia’s club level is definitely a step up. “And like us, they’ll be fielding a different squad from their winter university team—so we’re both heading in with some unknowns.”
These unknowns include specifics around style of play that would often be learned through watching them play by viewing video playbacks of their games. Alex says, “There is only so much we’ve been able to get from video footage. We know they will be strong and that it will be a tough game.
“But the team is confident that we can execute well, and perform the way we have been training.”
Sammie is excited by the opportunity the World Cup presents to team members. “Representing both Australia and New Zealand with this team will be something truly special.”
Te Herenga Waka Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith encourages all members of our community to attend and support our team for this important game.
“It is fantastic to see our team do so well on the national stage and Saturday is a wonderful opportunity for our community to support our University and woman’s football at what is sure will be a really good match. As Sammie said to me earlier this week, we can all wish of a typically windy and exhilarating Wellington day to add to our home advantage.”
Join us at 2 pm, Saturday 7 December, at Fraser Park in Lower Hutt to support the team. Register for transport to the game and a supporter’s t-shirt. For those supporters unable to make it out to the game, the match will also be livestreamed here thanks to the support of Sportway.
