Rugby: Mitchell lives on through tournament

Te Puke's Tai Mitchell team.

The tournament was named for Maori leader Henry Taiporutu Te Mapu-o-te-rangi Mitchell, who was born at Ohinemutu on May 5, 1877.

He was recognised as an authority on matters affecting Maori and organised countless committees, hui and public events in the Rotorua district.

He served as secretary of the Arawa Bowling Club, was honorary surveyor to the Rotorua Racing Club, secretary of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Football Union and the Rotorua sub-union, and a member of the Maori Advisory Board of the NZ Rugby Football Union.

In 1936 he was spokesman for Te Arawa in requesting the New Zealand Rugby Football Union not schedule a match with the touring Springboks because of the racial abuse evident on the 1921 tour.

The Tai Mitchell tournament began two years later when Mitchell presented the original Tai Mitchell Shield to be competed for by the then seven Bay of Plenty sub-unions of Apanui, Opotiki, Whakatane, Rangitaiki, Galatea, Rotorua and Tauranga.

Later, Te Puke, as well as an extra team from both Tauranga and Rotorua, joined to bring the total number of teams to 10.

The tournament has stood as one of the most important events in junior rugby since.

Mitchell died in 1944, but the tournament lives on, doubling as a trial for the Bay of Plenty Roller Mills team that goes on to represent the province at the northern regional tournament against teams from Northland, Auckland, Thames Valley, King Country, Waikato and North Harbour in early October.

Tauranga West will defend their title against Rotorua Maroon, Apanui, Te Puke, Whakatane, Rotorua Gold, Tauranga East, Opotiki, Rangitaiki and Galatea at Rotorua International Stadium from Friday.