The Vodafone Warriors joined forces with the New Zealand Rugby League and Kiwi Tag in a roadshow to the deep south this week promoting the ACC SportSmart Prepare to Perform programme and Kiwi Tag drills and skills.
The touring party arrived in Invercargill on Sunday before heading to Queenstown on Monday afternoon and spending the day there yesterday.
Included in the group were Kiwi greats Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana, Warriors women’s head coach and Kiwi Ferns assistant coach Luisa Aviaki and members of the inaugural Warriors women’s team Georgia Hale, Lorina Papali’i and Alice Vailea.
The purpose of a trip like this is to visit communities we don’t normally see
Petrece Kesha Vodafone Warriors community relations manager
"The purpose of a trip like this is to visit communities we don’t normally see to share the importance of wellbeing through the fun rugby league provides,” said Vodafone Warriors community relations manager Petrece Kesha.
“We promoted wellbeing messages on sleep, hydration and nutrition as well as encouraging Kiwi kids to get active through a non-contact version of rugby League (Kiwi Tag) coming into the cooler months.
“Luisa and the women’s players also spent time specifically focusing on girls and women being involved in the game.”
The tour started with a Mitre 10 and Southland District Rugby League junior skills and drills session indoors at ILT Stadium Southland on Sunday evening while there were visits to Southland Boys’ High School (Vagana and Wiki pictured with students above), Te Wharekura o Arowhenua, Waverley Park School and Windsor North School on Monday.
Also on the programme in Invercargill was a Southland District Rugby League junior schools tournament involving St Patrick’s School – the tournament winners – Waverley Park School, Te Wharekura o Aowhenua and Hillside Primary School from Winton.
In Queenstown, the touring party visited Shotover Primary School, Remarkables Primary School, St Joseph’s School and Wakitipu High School.
The programme trip was rounded off with a Mitre 10 drills and skills session at Wakatipu High School.
