Rugby: Buzz builds as club aims for top 10s

Forwards from Arataki and Ngati Hangarau clash during last year's Vaughan Kuka 10s tournament at Te Puna.

Auckland has the nines, Wellington the sevens - but in Te Puna the 10s will grace the paddocks.

Te Puna Rugby Club has since 1998 hosted a 10-a-side rugby tournament on the Saturday after Waitangi Day.

This year's tournament will have special significance because it also marks the launch of fundraising for the events planned to mark the club's centenary in 2019.

Club committee member Paora Ngarama said there was no prize money but the prestige of holding the Vaughan Kuka trophy was enough to attract teams.

"They are competing for the honour of winning the trophy. We thank teams and clubs for supporting it every year and will continue to run it as long as there is that support," he said.

"It's a chance to see some of the best up-and-coming players from the Bay of Plenty. It's a tournament that has a great social buzz about it."

There are 14 teams entered this year - mostly from the Bay of Plenty - including two from the hosts, and teams from Pirirakau, Whakarewarewa, Rangataua, last year's beaten finalists Arataki, Judea, Katikati, Ngati Hangarau (Bethlehem) and Eastern Districts.

Te Puna 1, coached by Paul Tietjens and former Highlander Daniel Quate, are defending champions.

Tournament director Henare Kuka described the 10s as a pinnacle event for the club, which had focused on 10-a-side as their preferred shortened version of the game for about 14 years before again picking up sevens just two or three years ago.

This year's tournament will also be a shakedown for Te Puna and national club champions Rangataua for the Middlesex Cup National Championship club sevens tournament hosted by the Maungatapu club the following weekend.

"[The 10s] is a pinnacle event for the Te Puna club and it starts the season really well for us," said Kuka.

Former Bay of Plenty Steamers lock Aiden Kuka played in the first tournament and will once again lace up the boots on Saturday.

"I'm definitely slowing down, but it will be something to tell the grandkids," he said. "The body's going to hate me the next morning, but you do what you have to do for your club."

The 10-a-side game reached the heights of popularity in the 1960s, but in more recent times it is the sevens version of the game that has dominated.

Saturday's tournament will be played on three fields at Maramatanga Park, Te Puna. Kick off of the first games is scheduled for 10am. Entry is by gold-coin donation and there will be raffles and food available.

The finals are expected to begin ats 4pm.