RUGBY - GISBORNE Boys' High School's Courage Cup junior rugby competition started this week with over 100 students involved.
The focus of the Wednesday afternoon competition is about getting kids out there participating and having fun, co-ordinator and GBHS first 15 old boy Mark Jefferson said.
The school has seena slight increase in their player base, with at least 20 players in each of the six teams who are named after famous GBHS first 15 old boys.
The sides are Team Rico Gear, Hosea Gear, Charlie Ngatai, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Brendon O'Connor and Toa Halafihi.
Jefferson said naming teams after former first 15 players who had gone on to play professionally, and in some cases wear the All Black and Maori All Black jersey, was motivated in part to help grow school identity and spirit.
The Courage Cup is contested like the Ranfurly Shield but with no home and away advantage. The holders have to defend the cup every time they play.
Jefferson said players had stayed with the same team they played with last year but they had done their best to spread the talented players around the teams to make for more exciting and even games.
The Hosea Gear team are the new holders of the Courage Cup after beating Ngatai 42-17 in the first game of the competition.
