

A long-standing provincial youth rugby tournament has been scrapped.
The Roller Mills tournament, which began in 1924 and has featured future All Blacks superstars Sir Colin Meads, Don Clarke, Sir Michael Jones, Sonny Bill Williams and Kieran Read, ended as the Northern Region Rugby Council continues to change its approach to representative rugby for young players.
The under-13 weight-restricted tournament is believed to be the second-oldest provincial competition in New Zealand behind only the Ranfurly Shield.
“The decision is backed by research showing early selection sends a negative message to young players who still have a number of years to reach their full physical and mental development potential. Rugby is a late specialisation sport,” said NRRC chairman Neil Alton.
The NRRC will no longer have representative provincial union-based initiatives below the under-16 age-group.
Over the past 12 months, the NRRC has conducted three review meetings to help form the decision.

Alton said two of the nine member provincial unions decided not to participate in Roller Mills in 2019.
“The Roller Mills Tournament in particular has a proud history and we’d like to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to deliver the tournament.
“It’s our aim to give even more players and coaches a great experience, delivered in a d