NZRU to invest $16.5m in community rugby

Interesting article. Take note Mr Pulver


New Zealand Rugby will invest $16.5 million in community rugby over the next three years.

The community rugby strategy was launched today on Auckland's North Shore at Rosmini College, it will see investment in secondary schools, coaching resources, referee education and club administration.

"Rugby is at the heart of communities throughout New Zealand, providing men and women - young and old - with a pursuit that inspires and unifies them. We're committed to growing the game at all levels," general manager of community rugby Brent Anderson said.

One interesting move is the requirement for all coaches registering for small blacks rugby in 2013 to undergo police vetting.

New Zealand rugby has identified a number of offences that will automatically disqualify a person from coaching or refereeing if convicted.

Since the first community rugby plan in 2004 player numbers have increased 16 per cent to almost 150,000 with 29 per cent increase in coaches and 15 per cent increase in referees.

While numbers have grown five per cent over the last year, 4000 less teenagers play now than they did 10 years ago.

"We're talking to our teenagers to better understand their challenges and as part of our strategy have increased the focus to working with secondary schools as crucial to retaining teens in rugby," Anderson said.

In addition to this funding, the NZRU provides more than $8 million to the provincial unions to run the game.

- © Fairfax NZ News