Numerous schools, hospitals and community groups were involved in the Warriors Community Foundation’s highly successful three-day Road to Regions tour.
Supported by 30 One New Zealand Warriors staff and 30 players, the foundation staged three visits simultaneously to Whangarei, Auckland and Tauranga to drive community engagement and promote key programmes focused on wellbeing and education.
The tour took in 18 schools, four hospitals and six community groups connecting with at least 3000 school pupils and more than 500 family members and community people.
“On behalf of the Warriors Community Foundation, a huge thanks to everyone who made the Road to Regions tour possible and to everyone involved at the various events. We're especially grateful to NRL Community and the Wright Family Foundation for their invaluable support,” said Warriors Community Foundation CEO Lincoln Jefferson.
“The tour was a huge success and we’ve received great feedback for what we hope will become an annual undertaking with the club and the foundation working together to drive community engagement.”
Highlights in Whangarei included a Q&A session with One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster, a player signing session and a Have a Go Day with local schools. Apart from Webster, players involved were Dylan Walker, Kayliss Fatialofa, Leka Halasima, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Tohu Harris, Freddy Lussick, Kalani Going and Chanel Harris-Tavita.
The Auckland programme included visits to Ronald McDonald House, Auckland City Mission, Kidz First Hospital, Starship Hospital, John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation and Halberg Foundation’s Making Waves Disability Day as well as participation in Sir Keith Park School’s special summer sports day and supporting New Zealand Food Network’s community initiatives. Players involved were Kurt Capewell, Bunty Afoa, Demitric Vaimauga, Patrick Moimoi, Luke Hanson, Laishon Albert-Jones along with NRL assistant coach Stacey Jones and New South Wales Cup coach David Tangata-Toa.
School visits were the focus in Tauranga featuring interactive sessions on mental wellbeing, teamwork and the positive values of rugby league and physical wellbeing. Players and football staff involved were NRL assistant coach Richard Agar, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Luke Metcalf, Sam Healey, Edward Kosi, Zyon Maiu’u, Jacob Laban, Ali Leiataua and Sio Kali.
