{"id":8669,"date":"2019-05-10T05:00:49","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T17:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=8669"},"modified":"2019-05-10T08:34:46","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T20:34:46","slug":"new-zealand-rugby-welcomes-new-junior-rugby-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2019\/05\/10\/new-zealand-rugby-welcomes-new-junior-rugby-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Rugby welcomes new junior rugby initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Zealand Rugby welcomes new junior rugby initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has welcomed a new initiative which will see a non-contact rugby grade for boys kick off tonight on Auckland\u2019s North Shore.<\/p>\n

The North Harbour Rugby programme is the first of its kind in New Zealand and was designed to address the decline in the number of boys playing rugby in the region.<\/p>\n

The boys\u2019 grade opens with a festival night at Marist North Harbour Rugby Club tonight at 5pm and has attracted registrations from 13 club teams in the North Harbour region.<\/p>\n

North Harbour Rugby Head of Rugby Engagement and Participation, Bill Wigglesworth, said the new grade was about providing rugby opportunities to boys who were new to rugby and others who weren’t keen to continue playing tackle rugby.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve made quite a few changes this season to make sure we’re providing quality experiences to young kids. We\u2019re focusing on creating rugby environments that are all about a climate of development, fun and put young people at the centre of their rugby experience, said Wigglesworth.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a growing demand to provide junior boys with different ways to play the game and it\u2019s been really well received by our community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expanding our non-contact versions of rugby called Rippa Rugby and QuickRip and they\u2019re fast and exciting to play. Lots of boys decide to play rugby later on and we want to give them an opportunity to be involved without putting them into a tackle team straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Head of Participation and Development, Steve Lancaster, praised the new initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is for as many kids as possible to have a positive rugby experience and we want to encourage a lifelong love of the game. This is a fantastic new way for boys to play rugby and we really support North Harbour Rugby\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know to keep young people engaged in our sport we need to be flexible, try new things and deliver experiences that kids want, and that includes opportunities to play non-contact versions of rugby for as long as they wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new boys\u2019 grade came on the back of the success of North Harbour Rugby\u2019s equivalent grade for young females, which has seen a girls-only non-contact club grade available since 2016.<\/p>\n

North Harbour was now considered one of the fastest growing regions for women\u2019s rugby in New Zealand and in the 2019 season there were 51 Rippa Rugby and QuickRip girls\u2019 teams in action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rise of women\u2019s rugby continues around the country and to see the growth in North Harbour from 30 girls\u2019 Rippa Rugby and QuickRip rugby teams in 2018, to 51 in 2019 is testament to that”, Lancaster said.<\/p>\n

North Harbour Rugby kicked off its non-contact rugby season this weekend with festivals for boys and girls at Marist North Harbour Rugby Club and Silverdale Rugby Club.<\/p>\n

Media are invited to attend the North Harbour Rugby festival events today and tomorrow, please contact Paul Stevens for more information.<\/p>\n

Boys non-contact festival information<\/strong><\/p>\n