News

Local Volunteers Ensure Carnival Series Has a Successful Start

Group with RLWC at Nelson Camp

Tasman Rugby League and their volunteers made sure that the first of the Community Roots Carnivals of 2012 was a great success. The day started with breakfast, which included cereal supplied by Nestlé and fruit kindly provided by 5+ a day. The children then spilt into groups with the children 8 years and under joining Ruben Wiki in a tug of war and wheelbarrow races while the older group took part in Backyard League.

Everyone got together for some laughs with 'idol' style dance offs, first featuring adults and children, and then the adults danced while the kids acted as judges and the winner received a Nestlé pack. All the children who took part received a free t-shirt from new sponsor BLK along with a goodie bag from NZRL.

Half a dozen parents took about half an hour away from the ground to complete the new Fundamentals training programme and their feedback was very positive.

Dain Guttenbeil, General Manager Community Development said "A committed group of volunteers had prepared really well and they ensured that the 90 children and their parents who came along had an excellent day.

"As Mini & Mod footy is only just being established in the region, this was a really important day. The kids got to find out about league in a safe and fun environment and parents got to learn more about how to play the game safely through the Fundamentals programme.

"The kids looked great in their t-shirts and they really got involved in everything. The volunteers down there did a great job, and this was a very good start to the Carnival series. "

Tasman Rugby League secretary Sharon Tarapipipi said of the camp "The local support we're gathering for the growth and development of RL in the Tasman District is really starting to take hold and the success of our second Roots camp is testimony to that.

"Getting the parents involved is just as much a part of it as the children. When we involve the parents, we get the kids and developing the sport into something for the whole family will be beneficial to rugby league's ongoing success in the region.

She continues "The messages that go along with the sport, such as 'breakfast being the most important meal of the day' and 'five+  a day' are easy to get out to the children when you have major sponsors such as Nestle on board and it's something we are also keen to promote here in Nelson, not only with junior rugby league but also within our senior clubs. They're the role models for our up and coming stars and the ones our children look up too so it's a very important message to be modelling."

She concludes "When you get a chance to stand back and watch the volunteers with the children (many of whom play in our senior clubs) you see the positive effects of the fundamentals of the sport in action filtering down through them and engaging the children in fun ways with the games set up at different stations. No one leaves empty handed and they all have big smiles on their sweaty faces which proves that rugby league is fun for the whole family and more than just a game."

The next free NZRL Community Roots Carnivals are in Wanganui on February 25 and Taranaki on February 26.