World Cup the ultimate carrot

DREAMWORLD: A group of Ruapehu College students check out the Webb Ellis Cup at their school yesterday. Photo/Bridget Belsham

THE ARRIVAL of the Rugby World Cup tour to the greater Whanganui region was perfect timing yesterday.

The cup was on tour as part of a nationwide drive to recruit teenagers into the game, or retain them rather than allow them to slip away.

The timing was perfect given the announcement will again field an under-21 side, although it will play in the Manawatu Colts division kicking off this season on April 2.

The side will be co-coached by Darryl Malcolm and Karl Gibson and run under the auspices of the Metropolitan Union, a sub-union to the Wanganui Rugby Football Union.

WRFU community rugby development officer Lesley McKenzie said it had been identified nationwide there was a substantial drop-off in numbers playing the game between school and club level.

"There are so many other attractions out there for teenagers. But there is also a gap in available competition catering for those age groups between school and club level, so it is good to see an under-21 side formed," McKenzie said.

"The World Cup tour was designed to address the very issue of teenagers leaving the game, so its arrival here in Whanganui was timely. We haven't had an under-21 side from Whanganui in quite a while."

Malcolm said criteria to play in the Manawatu Colts division included under-21 open weight and under-23 restricted weight players.

"We have formed a squad and we will be playing a pre-season match in Hawera this weekend to prepare for a start to the season on April 2," he said.