It was time for the national union to put its money where its mouth was, the former New Zealand captain said yesterday.
Littleworth hopes the Black Ferns’ stunning 34-31 win over England in the World Cup final at Eden Park on Saturday night will not represent a temporary spike in interest in the women’s game.
She wants to see a massive push into growing the sport at the base, and more opportunities for fans — girls, especially — to see their new heroes in action.
"The national union is supporting top women’s rugby now, which is great," Littleworth said yesterday.
"They’ve also got to really support it more at the grassroots. We’ve got to get some really good, clear development plans in place.
"It’s an exciting time. And I hope the union really follows up the success of the Black Ferns with more development of grassroots rugby."
Dunedin was a prime example of the need to focus heavily on developing women’s rugby, Littleworth said.
There were just five teams — including two from the regions — in the premier women’s competition this season.
"When I was playing, we had 12. University alone had four.
"So where is the development now in women’s rugby, and in the 15s game? Because a lot of work has gone into the sevens.
"You’ve got to go back to the grassroots and the community and get that really good base of coaches and playing numbers so that we can bring it through from school rugby into club rugby into Super Rugby.
"We really need to grow that base. There is that pathway now for girls and women, which is great, so let’s build on that."
Littleworth has also called on New Zealand Rugby to ensure the Black Ferns get a chance to play in front of fans around the country.
The World Cup was based entirely in Auckland and Whangārei, for financial reasons.
"It was certainly a bit gutting. I would have thought at least one game could have been played in the South Island.
"There are good players in places like Central Otago who would not have been able to afford to go to Auckland, and they need a chance to see these stars and to witness what we saw on Saturday."
Littleworth, who played 20 games (including eight tests) for the Black Ferns, was at the opening game of the tournament with some of her fellow "old girls".
She had to settle for watching the final on television and loved every minute as the Black Ferns upset the powerful English to wrap a tournament that could have lasting impact on the sport.
"It was quite unbelievable, wasn’t it? Unbelievable not just for women’s rugby but for women in sport.
"I think it’s just really upped the profile of rugby played by women, and highlighted the fact women can play a good game of rugby. I think a lot of us already knew that, but not all of the public necessarily knew that.
"Women can be very talented at whatever sport they want to play, and this tournament has certainly lifted the profile of women’s rugby.
"They just looked like they were having fun doing what they believed in, and whether they won or lost, I think people were embracing their enjoyment and their love of sport.
"They really have been supported by a nation, which is well overdue. It’s been amazing to see that."
Littleworth is a Dunedin physiotherapist — she has a long history working with elite teams, including her former team for seven years, and athletes — and there was proof yesterday the Black Ferns’ World Cup victory had made its mark.
"I’ve had five patients so far today and they’re all talking about, and they’re all males talking about it, so that’s outstanding."
It is all a far cry from 1991, when Littleworth captained the first New Zealand women’s team to play at a World Cup.
Those pioneering Black Ferns had to raise their own money to get to Britain, where they were beaten by the US in the semifinal, and "quite significant" progress had come to women’s rugby since then.
"It’s about time. Sometimes these things take time.
"It’s just so good to see this happening now."
