This coming fall (October 2014), the rugby girls of the New Zealand Institute of Sport are given the chance of a lifetime:

We're going on overseas tour to California (US), will take on 3-4 teams from the states, show them how the game is really supposed to be played, and get to spend 11 days with our sisters on this great adventure.

Well, that's the plan, but as you can imagine, it will come down to financials...

NZIS is all about sports - and our rugby team consists of students from all different courses, aged 18-26. What brings us together is our love for the game with the odd-shaped ball, and we've been working as a team since the very start of this year. Contact work, fitness, rain, mudd, preparation games: you name it, we've been there (and still going). Our commitment has only grown, and our team spirit is higher than ever.

NZIS has long-lasting partnerships with colleges and universities all over the place, with a long tradition of exchanges (Westmont College came over this February).They offer us this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go and play in the US (yes, the Black Ferns still beat them, but women's rugby is actually huge over there!).

The list of (alumni) students of the Institute of Sport includes a lot of professional sportspeople and Olympians, including All Blacks and Black Ferns (see: www.nzis.co.nz). All of them started off somewhere, and a tour like this can be a defining point in a sporting career: It's a huge chance to not only work on our game, but also widen our personal horizons, leave our comfort zones, and start some international friendships.

A big junk of the costs is subsidized by NZIS, but the budget that every player has to contribute is still around the $3000-mark (including flights, accommodation, transport, most of the food). The amount we are hoping to raise through thrillpledge covers the ACCOMMODATION part for the players coming along.

With your pledge, you're helping some very committed rugby girls getting one step closer towards their dream. For some of us, this is the first-ever overseas trip, as personal circumstances don't allow for a big budget like this on a regular basis.

Some of us may be future (and even current!) rugby stars and go on to represent their regions and countries.

Please support our dream.

Every dollar counts - thank you very much for your support! *1 TEAM 1 DREAM*