Rotorua trainer in league of his own

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING: Rotorua's Iripa Rangi has landed a dream job working with the Junior Warriors. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

ROTORUA'S Iripa Rangi has landed a dream job as one of the trainers for the Junior Warriors.

Rangi is currently finishing his post-graduate studies in sport and exercise, at Auckland University of Technology, and has plans to do his masters next year.

He recently picked up a job as the assistant trainer for the Junior Warriors following a stint with the Auckland Rugby Union this year.

Rangi, 26, said his goal was to become the head trainer of a high performance team one day - be it in his favourite sport league, rugby or another sport.

"Within the post graduate community here at AUT they have a lot to do with the Warriors and the opportunity came up to do some work with them," he said.

"They had an interview with me on a Thursday, I think it was, and said they would ring me the next day, but I got a call about two hours later and they said [the job] was mine if I wanted it."

Pre-season started this week for the successful Junior Warriors team who have won three titles in the past six seasons in the Holden Cup - which is the under-20s equivalent of the NRL.

While the league season doesn't start until March, Rangi will be hard at work over the coming months doing a lot of strength and conditioning training with the rest of the team.

"We have just started pre-season so what I'm looking after at the moment is all the boys in the gym ... looking after them with their heavy-lifting stuff."

Rangi attended Rotorua Boys' High School before moving to Auckland to attend university.

He said he grew up playing rugby union in Rotorua but switched to playing league following a few years living in Auckland, and was stoked to be involved with the Warriors.

"Going through Rotorua Boys' High School, rugby was the buzz so I played that through high school and played three years up here in Auckland," he said.

"I got introduced to league during the Maori League Nationals, which was held over one weekend, and everything I love about rugby is what league is all about."

Rangi is a busy man at the moment juggling his main job at Fitlink New Zealand with his studies at Auckland University of Technology and his work with the Junior Warriors.

He said the Junior Warriors currently meet on four evenings every week plus a training each Saturday.

During the up-coming season, Rangi said he will also be on hand during home matches to take the pre-match warm-ups and after-match warm-downs, plus act as an on-field trainer during some games.