Touch: Hikurangi legend in a role change

Newly appointed Te Tai Tokerau Touch development officer, Joe Rau, stands in as a referee during the Northtec Adam Blair league competition last year. Photo / John Stone

Northland league legend, and proud Hikurangi Stags devotee, Joe Rau, has made a career defining code-switch.

Taking on a new role as the touch development officer for Te Tai Tokerau, Rau will leave after three successful years of helping grow and promote rugby league in Northland.

"I'm really excited to be the new Te Tai Tokerau touch development officer and very happy to be a part of helping the growth of touch in the area," Rau says.

"Moving over from three years of developing rugby league, I believe it [league] is in a good place with the development and profile of the game."

Rau, 36, has devoted a large portion of his life to rugby league so his code switch will no doubt appear as a bold move to some. As legend has it, he passed up the opportunity to pursue a contract with the NZ Warriors in his heyday.

Despite this, Rau has no regrets. The Hikurangi Stags stalwart says the brand of touch coming out of Northland at the moment is of a high quality.

"For me, touch was another sport that I enjoy playing, so this is about trying to do something similar with the game of touch.

"Get more people playing from a young age and create a pathway in terms of transferable skills and New Zealand representation.

"To grow the game of touch, first and foremost, through participation."

"I'm still running around for my club Hikurangi, I've been there since I was a kid so, hopefully, there will be one last year for me and then it'll be time to watch my kids and follow their dreams.

"My hands will be free to do a lot more family orientated stuff which was a big part of the decision to move over from league to touch."

Rau's term with Rugby League Northland ends on March 6.

TTT juniors claim two national titles

Te Tai Tokerau junior touch rugby teams competing at the Junior National Touch Championships this month have shaken their underdog status after winning the under-15 and under-17 mixed team events.

As a result of their dominance at national level and the two national titles, six Te Tai Tokerau players have been named to represent New Zealand at age group level.

Paul Turner, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Rivez Reihana and Johnson Peters have been named in the New Zealand under-15 mixed side while Lee Turner and Sam Babb made it into the New Zealand under-17 side.

In addition to the junior announcements, Joe Rau, has been named as coach of the New Zealand under-15 mixed team.

Rau says the recent success of the two teams largely came down to "amazing input from parents, the players and supportive coaching staff".

The junior tournament featured 64 teams from 14 provinces who were competing for just six gold medals.

"We took two teams down, took home two of the gold medals and left the rest of the country to fight over the remaining four," Rau said.

The under-15 mixed team claimed their national title after beating a strong Taranaki team 11-5 while the under-17 mixed side beat reigning champions and tournament favourites Auckland 6-4.