Warriors to visit night market, Rotorua schools

Vodafone Warriors players with kids training at ASB Arena in Tauranga on their way to Rotorua. Photo/George Novak

A signing session at the night market and visits to schools are on the programme for the Vodafone Warriors ahead of their NRL trial against Melbourne at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.

As well as the trial, Rotorua's 'Rugby League Festival' features six club teams contesting the Bay of Plenty 9s tournament at the stadium on Friday and Saturday. At stake is the Peter McLeod Cup.

The Vodafone Warriors' 23-man squad for the match arrives in Rotorua today and has a signing session at the Rotorua Night Market on Tutanekai St from 7pm to 8pm. Melbourne's squad will also be in attendance.

The Vodafone Warriors have an open field session at Rotorua International Stadium on Friday. The public are invited to watch the run from 10.30am.

The Vodafone Warriors' trial in Rotorua – their fourth in the Geyser City since 2010 – is preceded by a three-day Harvey Norman Community Warriors programme.

A contingent including players Gerard Beale, Junior Pauga and Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck travelled south yesterday via Mount Maunganui where they held a skills and drills clinic for locals before heading to Rotorua.

Today and Friday the players will join community staff on visits to a total of 12 schools in the Rotorua district when they will present the ACC SportSmart programme.

The schedule begins at 10.45am today with Ngongotaha School and St Michael's School followed by Sunset Primary School and Malfroy School at 11.30am. After lunch the two groups will be at Aorangi School and Owhata School from 2.00pm-2.45pm.

On Friday there'll be visits to Horohoro School and Rotorua Intermediate School from 10.00am-10.45am, St Mary's School and Whangamarino School from 11.30am-12.15pm and Western Heights Primary School and Selwyn Primary School from 2.00pm-2.45pm.

The Harvey Norman Community Warriors group will combine for a Harvey Norman store appearance from 4.30pm-5.30pm.

The teams involved in the Bay of Plenty 9s are the Ngongotaha Chiefs, Mangakino Hawks, Taupo Phoenix, Hamilton City Tigers, Pikiao Warriors and Pacific Sharks.