City juniors Taupo bound (+pics)

It's been a winning season for City's junior rugby teams and now they are on the road to take on the rest of New Zealand.

The talented players have topped one junior grade with the other three teams finishing in the top four of the Whangarei competition and this weekend a team of City players will be part of the Junior Rugby Festival tournament in Taupo.

Last year they surprised the opposition by finishing second.

Coach of the junior teams and City stalwart Marcelle Kaipo has been a main driver behind the resurgence of junior rugby at the City Club.

"The main thing we try and instil is a positive attitude on and off the field.

"We teach them to be humble too and that every game is a learning experience. We want to keep them with positive peers because there is a lot of negative influences out there."

A lot of the kids - girls and boys - play rugby on Saturday and then league on Sunday.

"We also want to provide them with a safe environment. It's great to see them smiling and enjoying it," Mr Kaipo said.

He has also seen it as an opportunity to develop links with the local policing team.

Otangarei police Constable Darron Goodwin has joined the ranks and has been impressed with the young talent.

"If you can push the kids to get respect and the love of sport and get on between themselves they grow up to be team people and that's what this is all about."