Over 560 excited youngsters have less than two days, before they take part in the Western Bay of Plenty round of the Eastpack Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby World Cup (RRWC).

Twenty-six schools from throughout the Western Bay will head for Blake Park on Wednesday (18 May 2011). Each participating school will field a team apiece in the year the Year three & four and Year five & six divisions, with individual teams having a minimum of two girls in their ranks.

Ex New Zealand Sevens player and current Steamer Lance MacDonald, is a great supporter of Rippa Rugby, because of the important rugby skills that the introductory game teaches participants.“There are two fundamental skills of Rugby that Rippa Rugby develops, which are evasion and passing”

“New Zealand Sevens teams always work on the two fundamental skills of passing the ball and evading opposition players”. “ Fifteen aside rugby with the Steamers and Chiefs development sides, requires me to also put in plenty of work on the two basic skills”. “I am excited about being on the sideline of the Eastpack Rippa Rugby World Cup at Blake Park on Wednesday, and look forward to watching the talented youngsters on show”.

A real sense of occasion is brought to the RRWC tournament, with each school representing a rugby playing country. To add to the excitement, teams wear a shirt with the Bay Rugby logo on the front and the country name on the back.

While each of the three Bay of Plenty RRWC tournaments tournament, will find a regional champion in the two grades, the semi-finalists from the Western BOP, Eastern BOP and Rotorua RRWC, will be rewarded with berths at the Bay of Plenty RRWC Finals at Paengaroa on 8 June 2011.

Last year Paengaroa School took out the inaugural Bay of Plenty Year 5/6 RRWC championship, with Mount Maunganui School St Thomas More annexing the Year 3/4 division.

An extra incentive is provided at the Bay of Plenty RRWC Year 5/6 Finals, with the winner securing a place in the NZRU Rippa World Cup, to be played at North Harbour Stadium during August 2011.

BOPRU Eastpack Rippa Rugby World Cup
18 May - Western BOP @ Blake Park, Mount Maunganui (32 Schools)
25 May – Eastern BOP @ Rex Morepeth Park, Whakatane (24 Schools)
1 June – Rotorua @ Boord Park, Rotorua (24 Schools)
8 June – Eastpack Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby World Cup Finals @ Paengaroa

7-9 August - New Zealand Rugby Union Rippa World Cup @ North Harbour Stadium

For further information contact:
Kane Hames BOPRU Rugby Development Officer 029 471 2696