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Covid has caused some disruption to this season’s rugby, but organisers in the north say they are getting on with it and in some cases joining forces to get the numbers for teams.
While it’s good to be back for the coming season, with Covid affecting playing over the last two years, it will take some time build up numbers again, Rodney Otamatea Junior Rugby Club’s Phillip Tana says.
The under-14 juniors have similar numbers to last year, and the under-18’s also have a team, but the under-16’s are struggling to get numbers up.
In the premier division, Tomarata has joined with Wellsford to get a team together.
Volunteer numbers are also down which is to be expected, Phillip says, as they are generally connected to individual players.
But he doesn’t put it all down to Covid, with numbers struggling in the IMB grades for the last eight years.
This year will be about getting back into the schools and raising enthusiasm for the sport, he says.
Mahurangi is also looking at a season to build and get enthusiasm back up.
Chairperson Charmaine Gravatt says the club has also been buoyed by new sponsorship, with ITM Matakana, Warkworth and Mangawhai joining forces to back the club, after Mitre10 Mega pulled out earlier in the year.
While they have had one pre-season game, another premier game was called off due to players being affected by Covid.
The under-21 team has had to withdraw from the competition, but the club is instead fielding an under 85kg team.
Gravatt says this is important to keep college boys in the game, with appreciation for the old boys who have returned to keep numbers up.
While numbers are down across the north with some clubs struggling, this is no reflection on individual clubs, Rugby manager for North Harbour Junior and Youth Rugby Jacob Corbett says.
Overall, the future is looking positive for the sport in the north particularly with the numbers of girls coming into both the contact and non-contact teams, he says.
