Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Sport|Rugby

Tasman latest union to end rep rugby for juniors

12 May, 2019 11:30 PM2 minutes to read
North Harbour canned its junior rugby rep system earlier this year.

North Harbour canned its junior rugby rep system earlier this year.

Dylan Cleaver
By
Dylan Cleaver

Sports Editor at Large

VIEW PROFILE

Tasman has become the latest rugby union to end its junior representative programme.

The South Island union, a merger of Marlborough and Nelson Bays, released the news today, after conducting "qualitative and quantitative research among its stakeholders".

They follow the example of North Harbour, who created a stir earlier this year when they announced they were no longer sending teams to the famous Roller Mills tournament.

"It was the position of the TRU board and staff during these discussions that any replacement programme had be 'better than what is currently offered'," the release said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"A decision by TRU has been reached to replace the current age-grade representative programme with age-grade player development sessions for all participants.

"It will be called Mako Rugby Player Development Sessions for both male and female, these will be hosted at central venues in Nelson and Blenheim allowing all players, coaches and parents, to participate on site together."

The union, led by CEO Tony Lewis, released a business case to supplement their decision.

In the case notes, the union noted that the value of junior rep rugby had been "challenged" and "that negative aspects of a selective representative programme have become more visible and understood".

Said Lewis: "We're pleased to have got to a point where all participants will benefit from our new programmes, not a selected few. The board is excited that we will now be upskilling all age grade male and female rugby participants."

When Harbour made their call, CEO David Gibson acknowledged there had been some negative feedback but he was confident they were making the right call.

Related articles

Sport|Rugby

Dylan Cleaver: Why I've changed my mind about kids and contact sport

09 May 11:00 PM
Sport|Rugby

Head injuries in contact sport: 'It's not about concussion'

11 May 05:00 PM
Sport|Rugby

Wellington the latest to end junior rep rugby

12 Jun 11:45 PM

The union's stance was backed up by AUT academic Simon Walters, who runs the coaching research team.

"An overriding focus on winning at an early age has a number of costs," he said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"These include closing the door on late developers and late maturers; kids not developing the all-round skills they will need later if they stay with the sport; greater rates of overuse injuries; burnout and, ultimately, dropout."

The Otago and Southland unions announced last month they were discontinuing junior rep rugby.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Sport|Rugby

Interactive: How does Foster's tally of losses compare with other All Blacks coaches?

16 Aug 10:00 PM
Premium
Sport|Rugby

D-Day for Ian Foster: How and when NZR will decide All Blacks coach's fate

16 Aug 06:43 PM
Premium
Sport

NZ's fastest man considers Australian allegiance switch

16 Aug 05:30 PM
Sport

Horse racing: Trial the Catalyst for return to top

16 Aug 05:24 PM
Sport|Cricket

'He was keen': How Ben Stokes almost became a Black Cap

16 Aug 05:00 PM

Most Popular

NZ's low literacy rate is bad news for the economy
Education

NZ's low literacy rate is bad news for the economy

16 Aug 08:12 PM
Chlöe Swarbrick: We can choose to rewrite the rules again
New Zealand|Politics

Chlöe Swarbrick: We can choose to rewrite the rules again

16 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
Matt Heath: Life is short and the universe doesn't care, so make the most of it
Lifestyle

Matt Heath: Life is short and the universe doesn't care, so make the most of it

16 Aug 05:00 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP