Club Rugby: Ngongotahā remember those fallen in Baywide clash against Pāpāmoa

Ngongotahā rugby players Derone Campbell, captain Semisi Paea and Rory Marsh wear the one-off Anzac jerseys they will play in tomorrow. Photo / Supplied

Anzac tributes continue in the Baywide rugby competition this weekend with Ngongotahā rugby players wearing special Anzac commemoration jerseys in their clash against Pāpāmoa.

Their jersey acknowledges Australia and New Zealand with a blend of Aboriginal and Māori designs alongside an Aussie Digger and a New Zealand soldier. The Ngongotahā maroon sits behind a sunset silhouette of a soldier and also features poppy fields.

The jersey Ngongotahā players will wear for their game against Pāpāmoa. Photo / Supplied

The reason behind the special edition jerseys is to acknowledge those who have played with Ngongotahā, soldiers who have served and to educate people about the history of the club and Anzac Day.

Ngongotahā are the only unbeaten team in the Farmlands Co-operative Baywide First Division competition and they'll be looking to continue their success in week six when they host Pāpāmoa tomorrow.

Going into this weekend's match with the commemorative jerseys are adding to the team's excitement to get out on the field.

Ngongotahā hooker and jersey co-designer Cain McKenzie says this year is the club's 90th jubilee and the jerseys help commemorate that milestone, while honouring past and present players as well as paying tribute to soldiers - including a past player he didn't want to name who served in the military and passed away.

"We also have an ex player who served in the military who passed away, so we will donate a jersey to the family for the unveiling," McKenzie says.

"We wanted to appreciate those that had played and those that had served. We have a lot of young players so we wanted to engage them in the history of the club, they didn't understand the magnitude of the day. The boys are excited and they like the hype around it."

It was important for the club to do a good job with the jerseys, McKenzie says.

"There was a lot of pressure to get that right and we had to get a lot of approval as we know how much it means to a lot of people."

The playing jerseys will be auctioned after the game and the funds raised were initially destined for the Returned Services Association, however they declined. McKenzie says the funds will now go to Rotorua Community Hospice.

McKenzie says poppies will also be sold on match day.

Te Puna also wore special Anzac jerseys this week, in their premier division match against Arataki yesterday.

Farmlands Co-operative Baywide division one round six draw:
Saturday:
Ngongotahā v Pāpāmoa, Ngongotahā Domain.
Reporoa v Marist St Michaels, Reporoa.
Waikite v Murupara, Bellvue Road.
Kahukura v Paroa, Kuirau Park.
Judea v Ruatoki, Maharaia Winiata Park.
Poroporo v Whakatāne Marist, Poroporo Park.