Rugby stars mix it with youth

Lennox Wihongi, 12, plays table tennis with Taniwha player Miracle Taito. Photo / John Stone

Northland Taniwha players got a taste of some different ball games when they challenged Whangarei youth in volleyball, cricket, badminton, pool and table-tennis.

Players joined about a dozen young people at Whangarei's Youth Space at a special meet-and-greet last week.

"It's a great opportunity to have the Taniwha boys here engaging and hanging out with young people of Whangarei," chief executive officer of Whangarei Youth Space Beth Cooper said.

"It's an opportunity for the younger people to look up to them, and rub shoulders with them playing pool."

The Youth Space was hoping to form a relationship with the Northland Rugby Union. "Hopefully the boys will be back again," Ms Cooper said.

Stephanie Snowden, 19, had come down to the Youth Space for the first time on Thursday and was stoked to come across the Taniwha players.

"I've already watched heaps of the games but it's really cool that they are mixing and mingling," she said.

The Whangarei local found it hard to choose her favourite player, settling on the two she was playing pool with - Matt Talaese and Dan McCully.

McCully said it was cool to come along to the space. "It's awesome. It's good to see what's going on the area."

The Ruakaka local said the youth were good competitors. "They are pretty skilful."