NZ Rugby welcomes Pacific sporting partnership Featured
NZR Chief Executive, Steve Tew
11 September, 2016. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) today welcomed the announcement by the New Zealand Government to invest in a major programme across the Pacific aimed at encouraging increased participation of young people in sport.
NZR will work with Oceania Rugby and the rugby unions in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands to develop a rugby programme for young people that meets the needs of the region.
NZR Chief Executive, Steve Tew said the initiative provided a great opportunity to support children and young people across the Pacific to get more involved in sport.
"We’re looking forward to working with the rugby unions and schools in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands to support their efforts to provide greater opportunities for their young people to be involved in sport.
"Sport is recognised around the world as making a real difference to peoples’ lives and outcomes. It’s great that rugby will be used to support the work New Zealand does in the Pacific and make a meaningful contribution on and off the field in the region.
"We know from our experience through targeted programmes such as Rippa Rugby, the recently introduced Quick Rip form of the game and the popularity of sevens that rugby is really adaptable.
"While we still have to sit down and work through the various elements of our approach, we are acutely aware that NZR’s efforts will focus on working with the rugby unions to increase the number of people who have the opportunity to get involved and remain active in sport.
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