Rippa World Cup up for grabs

Matauri Bay's Kenneth Tua, representing Canada, dodges an Ireland player on day one of the Rippa Rugby World Cup Tournament. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A small Far North school is hoping to reach the final today in a Rippa Rugby World Cup Tournament being played in Wellington.

Matauri Bay School won the Northland Rippa Rugby title earlier this year, earning the 80-pupil school a place in the national championships. The team of 10 from Year 6 - five boys and five girls aged 10-11 - flew to the capital on Sunday and played a series of pool games yesterday against primary school teams from Hawke's Bay, Otago, Manawatu and Wellington.

Each of the 20 competing schools represents one of the Rugby World Cup nations. Matauri Bay drew Canada, one of the teams based in the Far North during the 2011 Cup. NZ Rugby's Brent Anderson said the Rippa Rugby World Cup was a great way for children to represent their communities and feel part of the Rugby World Cup in the UK.

"With the Rugby World Cup taking place on the other side of the world and in a different time zone, we want to make sure Kiwi kids feel involved and the Rippa tournament is a fun way to do this." For most, it was their first time playing in a national tournament.

"It's a wonderful event for these kids. Aside from the fun they're having, they'll be trying their best to win the tournament. After all, they're playing for their school and their communities," Mr Anderson said. "They've worked hard to be here and you never know, there may be future All Blacks and Black Ferns among them."

Twenty schools are taking part in the tournament at Wakefield Park in Island Bay. The quarter-finals, semis and play-off for third are due to take place today from 9am-1.15pm, with the final at 1.20pm.

The results of their first three games yesterday were: Italy (College St School, Manawatu) 50 Canada (Matauri Bay School) 30; Canada 35 France (Arrowtown School, Otago) 35; Canada 65 Romania (Khandallah School, Wellington) 35.