Old rugby boots are made for passing on

The Northern Advocate and Whangarei Report are asking for your help to put boots on the feet of young Northlanders playing sport.

With about 3000 kids playing rugby alone, not all of them can afford the appropriate footwear. So, the Advocate and Report are asking for any unused boots to be put to good use.

Northland ITM Cup first-five Dan Hawkins is behind the campaign, saying it's about opening the door for Northlanders to play sport.

"It's a real cool thing," he said of the campaign.

"I suppose it's not about the boots, but what they represent. Once you chuck them on and get into it, and hopefully enjoy the game, you know that's where you make a lot of mates. "That's probably the best thing about sport."

For some, the donated boots may be their first - something Hawkins remembers fondly.

"It's always a pretty cool thing to get your first pair, I think I had a humble pair of Slazengers from The Warehouse that mum got me.

"I probably played soccer for a bit when I was younger but I suppose when I went to rugby it was the best move, that's where I met all my mates - still my best mates today."

If you have boots in good condition that you no longer need, drop them in to the Advocate building in Robert St or the Northland Rugby Union office.

If you need boots, contact us and we'll try to find a pair.