Black Ferns star Sarah Hirini believes the re-election of Bill Beaumont as World Rugby chairman is a positive move for the growth of the women's rugby movement worldwide.
On Sunday, Beaumont held off rival Agustin Pichot to reclaim his role at the helm of the sport's global governing body, much to the chagrin of NZ Rugby, which backed the Argentinian.
One of Beaumont's primary campaign promises was a "focus on accelerated promotion of the women's game", which Hirini says was hugely encouraging to hear.
"I understand that he really wants to emphasise the women's game in the near future and that's really important to us," Hirini has told Newshub.
"We want to make sure that our game continues to grow and continues to build to become one of the main formats in world rugby."
While the remainder of 2020 is somewhat unclear, due to the impact of COVID-19, Hirni - a stand-out at both 15s and sevens formats - sees 2021 as a potentially landmark year for women's rugby.
"Having an Olympic Games and a Women's Rugby World Cup in the same year is going to be a massive opportunity for a lot of players, so I'm excited for where things are heading."
But the financial pressures placed on the sport in New Zealand by coronavirus have led to speculation that the women's game may be one of the first to feel the fallout.
Hirini brushed off any such concerns, citing NZ Rugby's all-inclusive approach to the game in recent years.
"I'm lucky enough to be in a sport where the players have a voice and that's been a thing right from the start of COVID - making sure that not only do the men get to play, but the women have equal opportunity to do so," says the Black Ferns Sevens captain.
"A big part of NZ rugby and the players association is about working together and making the right decision for all of us.
"Obviously, it creates challenges around travel and keeping people safe, but those decisions will be made based around that, rather than mens v women's rugby."
The uncertainty that comes with a global pandemic has provided a reality check for all professional athletes, particularly when it comes to life after sport, and NZ Rugby's latest initiative has been designed to deal with exactly that.
Launched Tuesday, 'EXPAND' is a resource for players, their families and their support networks, providing an overview of what players need to consider, as their professional rugby careers progress from playing in New Zealand, moving overseas and ultimately beyond their playing days.
Hirini notes the programme will be particularly useful for female players, whose on and off-field considerations tend to outweigh those of their male counterparts.
"In the women's game, the amount of professional rugby around the world is really limited, so if you leave the national game in New Zealand, it's quite hard to then get a gig somewhere else.
"It's also difficult, when you're a female and you want to have kids, start a family, so having a career and finding a passion after rugby can be a challenge, and this is going to help each and every one of our contracted players."
