“Students learned skills and strategies to demonstrate the school values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, excellence and respect, to take part in and run a quick rip festival.
“It was fantastic to see it come together. Students had not only developed their quick rip skills and gone outside their comfort zone; they had learned how to communicate effectively, support teammates, and sometimes even resolve conflict in a positive way, which is always challenging.”
By helping to administer the day, Year 12 physical education students learned about setting up and running effective sessions. In this, they had help from Poverty Bay Rugby Union.
Before the tournament, the union offered support with player, coach and referee upskilling, but the day was primarily student-run.
About 150 students in 14 teams played in the competition. Teams took the names of countries contesting the next Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Warren said they had so many teams that they ran out of names, and some classes had to choose their own country.
Wales won the event and split the team chant/spirit award with Fiji, who came third, and Samoa. France finished second.
The players of the tournament were Kylah Williams, Nicola Bronlund, Reremoana Aupouri, Eilish Cairns, Lucy Millar, Willow Stone and Eva Tupouniua. Chloe Kapene won the fastest-player award.
