Touch: Top rep bringing Bay magic touch

Puawai Harawira draws in Steven Toki with a nice straight angle. Photo/George Novak.

When Steven Toki moved to the Bay of Plenty 2 years ago because of the devastation of the Christchurch earthquakes he wanted to do what he had long done - play high-quality touch every day. The problem was, he couldn't.

That did not sit well with a man who had won world cups in South Africa in 2007 and in Scotland in 2011, so he decided to do something about it.

With all the experience garnered from winning five national titles with Canterbury and two indigenous world titles, Toki, with the help of Tauranga Moana, began to bolster the game in the Bay.

The results were clear to see at Tauranga Intermediate yesterday, when some of the region's finest players tested each other in the oppressive heat.

"I've been here before on the fields, but I'd never been inside the wharenui or the kitchen or any other part of the school until yesterday," Toki said. "The facilities at this school are amazing. You've got everything at your disposal. You've got catering, a meeting house that everyone can sleep in as well as the fields. It's perfect for what we are trying to achieve today."

The sides on show were all building towards specified targets.

The under-15 and under-17 nationals will be held at Gordon Spratt Reserve, Papamoa, in February, before the senior and master's teams head to Auckland for their national tournament the following week.

Tauranga Moana sides were using the day as a tune-up for this weekend's Maori nationals in Hamilton.

Toki said the game of touch was the ideal way to teach the fundamental skills of ball handling and build fitness.

"That's what I believe - touch is a great vehicle if you want to go on to play sevens, rugby or league."

The presence of Te Aihe Toma and Carlos Savage served to reinforce that fact, but Toki said competition would be stiff all summer.

"For a long time, Bay of Plenty was the stronghold for mixed touch, which is what I play, while Auckland and Canterbury are strong in men's and women's touch. Every now and then another team will turn up and get in there. It's pretty even across the board and anyone can take out the medals on the day."