Rugby: New competition keeps teens in game

Collegiate's Yeero Chatvarha escapes a City College tackler to race away for the first try out wide at Cooks Gardens yesterday. Photo/Stuart Munro

An inaugural nationwide rugby competition aimed at keeping youngsters in the game is proving popular with six teams in Wanganui.

The Tryzone under-14, under-65kg division was set up in response to research results from a New Zealand Rugby Union investigation.

Wanganui Rugby Union community development officer Jordan Farrington said the NZRU found the early teens was an age many youngsters left the sport for other pursuits.

"The research showed that was when the young kids dropped out of rugby, mainly because they were young and too small to foot it with the larger ones in their age group," Farrington said.

"The Tryzone under-14, under-65kg division was designed as a 10-a-side contact format with no emphasis on set pieces and scrummaging. Matches are played in 20-minute halves and it's five points for scoring out wide and three for scoring through the middle."

The division's weight range was the crucial factor which allowed the young, lighter players to enjoy the game without being too intimidated by larger boys.

"We're lucky to have the numbers for this competition in Wanganui and the kids are really enjoying it. The competition is also revealing some talented young players who may well develop further as they grow and carry on into mainstream rugby - that's what it's all designed for," Farrington said.

The Wanganui competition is played each Wednesday late afternoon at Cooks Gardens and includes college teams from Collegiate, Rangitikei, Taihape, City College and club side Wanganui Old Boys.

Heading into round three last night, Collegiate was leading the competition unbeaten on a maximum four points, with City College, Rangitikei and Wanganui Old Boys on two after a win and a loss in the first two rounds.

Taihape has lost two from two, while Wanganui High School came into the competition in round two but lost its first match 43-13 to Collegiate.

Last night's games went past deadline.