Tackle 5’s is a new, fast style of tackle rugby providing year 5 and 6 tamariki a taster of tackle rugby. Brainstormed up on a whiteboard in our Tarawera Room, with the support from our activation staff, tackle 5’s quickly came to life. 

Previously, the step between rip rugby and tackle was big, with the added pieces of scrums, line outs and increased relied size. Tackle 5’s bridges that gap, played with a mouthguard and in bear feet, tackle 5’s focuses on tackle technique, and playing to the rules.

3000 tamariki across the bay of plenty attended a tackle clinic, a prerequisite to play tackle 5s. 

After the successful tackle 5 tournament play which Merivale Girls proudly wear their medals from, the tackle 5’s fun didn’t stop. 

During the NPC season, local tamariki have been taking the field at half time during Steamers home games to keep the crowd pumped and the field warm while our the boys take the sheds.

The Three Dukes Half Time Tackle 5’s has been an opportunity to showcase to the wider Bay Community of the incredible and inspiring talent coming up though the ages. 

Merivale Girls took the field in our season opener against Waikato. The team not only took out the Tackle 5’s Bay Wide tournament, but also the 7’s tournament. With some players moving on to intermediate next year, they are excited for the upcoming opportunity to play in Aims Games for the next couple of years.

For those still at Merivale for another year, they will carry the mana which flows through their team thanks to the leadership of Sports Coordinator Owen Hohaia. They might have the second smallest roll in Tauranga, but their trophy cabinet shows that doesn’t mean anything. 

Played on a quarter of the NPC sized field, for the first time in junior rugby, tamariki play towards the goal posts to calibrate their compass to the line they’ll be aiming for in years to come. 

The first season of Tackle 5’s was a huge success, from tamariki themselves, sports coordinators to parents and teachers all expressing their love for the new game, Tackle 5’s has proven to be here to stay. Conversations with Waikato Rugby Union are already underway to bring Tackle 5’s wider.

Pictured:

Back L-R

Whaea Shirralee Hohaia (Deputy Principal), Leroy Carter (Steamer), Lyric Holden, Rangimarie Puaha, Praiselaye Saua, Delanie Little, Etivise Li, Cole Forbes (Steamer) Marcus Howie (BOPRU), Teigen Heidkamp (BOPRU)

Front L-R

Matua Owen Hohaia (Director of Rugby - Merivale School), Amethyst Wallace, Shareen Brown, Felicia Hennings, Myonne Milosi, Whaea Eva Gibson (Coach)

Article added: Thursday 12 October 2023