Talk Sport: Rugby league thriving at grassroots level

Rugby League. Otumoetai Eels versus Hamilton City Tigers.

Upper Central Zone is one of seven zones for New Zealand Rugby League and one of the largest geographical areas in the country. Districts include Gisborne, Waikato, Hauraki, Bay of Plenty and Coastline.

The purpose of the zone is to lead, foster, develop and promote rugby league in our area.

At district and club levels mini/mod, youth and senior footy are in full swing in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastline. Hauraki have also started their mini/mod season, with Gisborne starting in June. Taniwharau are currently leading the senior Waikato competition, closely followed by last year's Wai-Coa-Bay champions Hamilton City Tigers.

The Bay of Plenty/Coastline combined competition is going to be a closely-fought battle, with Otumoetai Eels currently unbeaten and Pikiao Warriors a team to watch out for this season.

Ahead of the current season, we appointed some volunteers to key staffing roles. Congratulations to U14 grade head coach Rob Taingahue, U15 grade head coach Kiritopa (Chris) Langley and assistant coach Alex Parker, U17 grade head coach Eugene Davis, lead trainer Jeremy Siulepa and assistant trainer Wilz Rutene, women's head coach Paniora Daniels, assistant coach Neville Takiri and trainer Alan Utanga.

The zone is also rolling out some initiatives to help with grassroots footy. The be a sport campaign, reinforcing positive sideline behaviour for our kids, and the club champion programme kick off this Wednesday in Tauranga.

The zone is fortunate to have some major events coming to our region this year, including the Vodafone Warriors tonight at FMG Stadium, Hamilton. It will be intriguing to see the diehard league fans come out of the woodwork from the area to support the Warriors and coach Steven Kearney as the team take on St George Illawarra.

The Harvey Norman Community Warriors team and upper central zone staff went to schools to do some community work yesterday and today, and league clubs from Tauranga and Hamilton will see their U7 and U9 grade teams playing in the curtain-raiser matches among the Warriors hype.

Otumoetai Eels from Coastline rugby league district will be playing alongside Waikato district-based clubs Turangawaewae, Taniwharau and Hamilton City Tigers.

But the main event for the sport this year is the Rugby League World Cup, which is coming to New Zealand in October. New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea have won the rights to host the World Cup this year, and as such Hamilton's FMG stadium and H3 team will be hosting two home games: Tonga v Samoa on November 4 and NZ v Tonga on November 11.

Other events coming to the zone include the NZ Secondary Schools Qualifying Tournament, the North Island Districts Tournament, Youth Nationals and NZRL Junior 16s and 18s.

For information on coaching courses, school visits, club capability training, or any matters involving rugby league, please contact mel.b@nzrl.co.nz.