Rugby: Tiny school puts in gigantic effort

Te Akau ki Papamoa School first had to win the Bay of Plenty regional tournament and their winning form continued in style this week. Photo / Dave Lintott

A proud team from a tiny school in Papamoa returned home wearing bronze medals from the fourth annual Rippa Rugby Championship held in Wellington this week.

Te Akau ki Papamoa School represented Bay of Plenty at the event run by New Zealand Rugby. It attracted 200 players from 20 teams nationwide made up of Year 6 boys and girls.

To make it to Wellington, Te Akau ki Papamoa School first had to win the Bay of Plenty regional tournament and their winning form continued in style this week.

They won all four pool games convincingly, then outplayed favoured Waikato 25-10 in the quarter-finals to set up a semifinal showdown with Counties Manukau (Roscommon School).

That game was lost 25-15 against the eventual tournament winners but they bounced back to easily beat Manawatu 40-10 in the play-off for third.

School principal Bruce Jepsen says he is "very proud of our school, its students and their achievements.

"One thing that was really clear throughout the week, was the conduct of our team, on and off the field, was exemplary and it stood out among all the teams.

"Overall, it was a great result to take out the bronze match, to gain a national honour and for the children to leave with a lifetime experience and bronze medal around their neck. The strength of our team was that they played as a team. A nice touch was the announcement from the captain of the plane congratulating the kids from Te Akau ki Papamoa School on their success."

An undoubted highlight for the team was meeting the All Blacks and having a photo taken with their heroes.

Wearing the Bay of Plenty colours was another thrill for the team of five boys and five girls.

"It only really sunk in when they were given their team kit by the New Zealand Rugby Union," said Jepsen.

"Immediately they took responsibility for the representative honour they had and they saw what it meant."

Rippa rugby continues to grow every year with more than 600 schools playing in competitions to find the teams to represent each province at the nationals. It is a safe, non-contact form of rugby aimed at primary school-aged children.

Rippa Rugby Championship results

Bay of Plenty (Te Akau ki Papamoa School)
*v Tasman won 20-15
*v Northland won 50-10
*v Manawatu won 30-20
*v Wairarapa Bush won
70-10

Quarterfinal
*v Waikato won 25-10
*Semifinal
*v Counties Manukau
lost 25-15
*Third place play-off
*v Manawatu won 40-10