Bay youngsters kit up for 100 days to go

Nearly 500 young rugby players will help the Bay of Plenty celebrate 100 days to go until the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011.


The Year 3 to Year 6 pupils from Rotorua will take part in the EASTPAK Rippa World Cup event, which follows on from events already held in Tauranga and Whakatāne.


Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Operations Manager Neil Alton said the event is a great opportunity for schools and young people to help celebrate the upcoming World Cup and to learn more about the countries that are competing.


“Teams involved will adopt a country name, learn about it and bring flags and costumes along to the tournament,” Mr Alton said. “Top placed teams from the three Bay of Plenty events will then qualify for the EASTPAK Baywide Rippa World Cup which will be held on Wednesday 8 June at Paengaroa Domain.”


He said winners of the Baywide tournament will represent the region at the national tournament in Auckland, to be held before the Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off.


“As part of participating in this event, all players are provided with a specially designed t-shirt with the name of the country they have represented,” Mr Alton said.


Hika Reid – an All Black from 1980 to 1986 – will present medals and trophies to the winning teams at tomorrow’s event (SUBS: Wednesday 1 June).


Mr Reid, who was born and bred in Rotorua, has been named as one of the 17 Kiwi rugby union legends, who will have a conservation project dedicated to them as part of the Living Legends programme that links into the Cup.


Tomorrow’s event will take place at Smallbone Park in Rotorua from 9am to 2pm. Forty eight teams are expected to attend. People are invited to come along and enjoy the fun day and cheer on the children of the Bay as they battle for the top spot in the region.


For more information about what is happening in the Bay of Plenty for the Rugby World Cup 2011, please visit www.bop2011.org.nz. If you would like to find out more about how to adopt a second team and other ways to get involved in RWC 2011, please visit www.nz2011.govt.nz/get-involved.