More than 150 ‘Mini Mako’ aged eight to 13 sunk their teeth into a Tasman Rugby school holiday programme at Trafalgar Park last Wednesday.
The skills session circled around getting tamariki match fit for this year’s or a future rugby season by putting the fun in fundamentals.
An equivalent also entered the field at Sports Park in Motueka on 16 April with around 80 tamariki.
Tasman Rugby game development manager Joe Wineera says the nexus was tackling and passing skills, as well as a rugby game to implement their learning and a game of bullrush, aptly named “shark rush”.
“It’s great to see so many kids enjoying it, and it also gives their parents a break,” he says.
“There were a lot of smiles, laughter, they’re having fun, but organically they’re actually learning the skills and gaining a passion for sport in general.
“That’s a big part of my teaching, to teach with fun so they’re kind of learning the fundamentals as we go,” Joe says.
Tasman Mako Nic Sauira and Luisa Tafia, Farah Palmer Cup coach La Toya Mason, Marist first-five Cooper Grant and aspiring Tasman Rugby referee Samara Bright offloaded their expertise.
