Sports talk: Big year for rugby league in the region

It's a big year for rugby league for all ages. Photo/File

Upper Central Zone is one of seven zones for New Zealand Rugby League and is one of the most geographically covered areas in New Zealand.

Districts include Gisborne, Waikato, Hauraki, Bay of Plenty and coastline. The purpose of the zone is to lead, foster, develop and promote rugby league in our area.

At a district and club level, mini/mod, youth and senior footy are in full swing in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastline. Hauraki have also started their mini/mod season, with Gisborne starting in June. Taniwharau is currently leading the senior Waikato competition, closely followed by last year's Wai-Coa-Bay champions, Hamilton City Tigers.

The Bay of Plenty/Coastline combined competition will be a closely-fought battle, with Otumoetai Eels currently unbeaten. Pikiao Warriors is a team to watch out for.

Ahead of the current season, several volunteers were appointed to key staffing roles. Congratulations to U14 head coach Rob Taingahue; U15 head coach Kiritopa (Chris) Langley and assistant coach Alex Parker; U17 head coach Eugene Davis, lead trainer Jeremy Siulepa and assistant trainer Wilz Rutene; women's head coach Paniora Daniels, assistant coach Neville Takiri and trainer Alan Utanga.

The zone is also rolling out initiatives to help with grassroots footy, including "Be a Sport" campaign, reinforcing positive side-line behaviour for our kids, and the club champion programme.

The zone is fortunate to have some major events coming to our region this year, including the Vodafone Warriors this Friday at the FMG Stadium, Hamilton.

It will be intriguing to see the die-hard league fans come out of the woodwork from the area to support the Warriors and coach Steven Kearney as the team takes on St George.

League clubs from Tauranga and Hamilton will see their U7 and U9 teams playing in the curtainraiser matches among the Warriors hype - Otumoetai Eels from Coastline Rugby League District will be playing alongside Waikato District-based clubs Turangawaewae, Taniwharau and Hamilton City Tigers.

But the main event for rugby league this year is the Rugby League World Cup in October. New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea have won the rights to host the competition this year and as such Hamilton's FMG Stadium and H3 team will be hosting two home games: Tonga v Samoa, on November 4, and NZ v Tonga, on November 11.

Other events coming to the zone include the NZ Secondary School Qualifying Tournament, the North Island Districts Tournament, Youth nationals and NZRL Junior 16s and 18s.

For information on coaching courses, school visits, club capability training, or any matters involving rugby league, please contact me on mel.b@nzrl.co.nz.​

Mel Bennett is the general manager - Upper Central Zone Rugby League.