News
6 August 2010
KING COUNTRY RFU – PRESS RELEASE
King Country Rugby Football Union (KCRFU) Chief Executive Officer David Trewavas today announced that the King Country Union had signed some significant players to bolster the playing team for the 2010 Heartland Cup championship. The squad was announced after club finals in Taumarunui on the weekend which was won again by the dominant Waitete club over Taumarunui Sports.
The King Country Rams squad features a number of returning local players headed by captain Beau Taylor, NZ Heartland representatives Aarin Dunster and Kane Quinlan and veterans Lance Tibby, Sam Mason and Jared Murrell.
To boost the squad the Union has signed their complement of loan players. The first loan player is former Samoan international five eight Tanner Vili. Tanner player 32 tests for Samoa and 3 for Pacific Islanders and attended 2 World Cups. He is still playing premier rugby in Auckland for Teachers Eastern club. He will add a bit of maturity to the young Rams backline.
Also signed is the one of the leading tryscorers from Auckland club rugby in Teachers Eastern winger Lolohea Loco. This young winger is very quick and skilful and highly regarded in Auckland club circles.
Another Auckland club player – this time Ponsonby loose forward Sean Morrell has also been signed up. Sean represented Fiji last year in the Pacific Nations cup and has also been involved in the Fijian 7’s team.
Bryan Williams the Ponsonby and All Black great was impressed with the calibre of the loan players signed and stated “they are good boys that you have got and will only be an asset to the Rams”
Also coming over to play in a warm up game against Northland Development at Taupo with an eye to staying for the season is former Australian and NRL league star David Peachey. Peachey formerly played for the Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Widnes and New South Wales State of Origin team along with earning one Australian test cap. Peachey was known for his speed, elusiveness and ability to thrill crowds and it is hoped he will continue to do this with the King Country faithful.
David has a link to the union with his wife being a Taupo local and has played in the local iwi games known as the “Pa Wars”. David has his own foundation in Australia “The David Peachey Foundation’ that promotes his philosophy “Be smart, stay clean, live your dream’ which provides grants, education, health and sports programs for the indigenous people in remote parts of Australia. He hopes to replicate the foundation within the King Country region.
Further the Rams will add to their management roster of coach Brett Coombe (former Taranaki representative), assistant coach Dave Murray (former Bay of Plenty rep) and manager Paul Mitchell (most capped King Country representative) with Frano Botica coming aboard as a skills coach. Frano is a former All Black and NZ league representative as well as having an extensive professional rugby background with North Harbour, Chiefs, NZ Warriors and Wigan.
Frano has strong links to the region having been born in Mangakino and his father Nick has captained the Taupo Rugby sub union team and also played for Hawkes Bay and King Country/Wanganui against the touring South Africans. Frano has been coaching the North Shore Rugby Club senior team with Buck Shelford and is keen to be involved in the Rams set up and also assist wherever he can with all the unions grade teams.
The announcement is the result of hard work and vision of our new CEO Dave Trewavas together with input from union staff and enthusiastic t local businessmen and businesses said Andrew McCullough the Union chairman. The union has signed a number of significant sponsorship deals including Taupo Venues, Taupo Hilton, PGG Wrightson, Canterbury and Speights. “I have been chairman of the union for the last 3 years and we have been sitting just outside that top four of the Meads Cup and last year were in the Lochore Cup. Collectively we as the union want to be a force in the Heartland championship and we want to begin to emulate the heady days of the early 90’s where we were a national force. We have one of rugby’s icons living in our union in Sir Colin Meads and we want to utilise his mana and produce a winning flagship team in the Rams and encourage our promising youngsters to stay in the region and try and further there rugby careers through the Rams set up.
Coach Brett Coombe is happy with the Rams squad and the loan players gathered and states “with the skills and experience this group of players can bring it can only benefit our local boys. I am looking forward to the start of the championship and we will play an exciting brand of rugby and will hopefully be winning rugby”.
Further enquiries
David Trewavas CEO KCRFU 027 5707918
28 June 2010
Volunteers required for Rugby World Cup 2011
If you want to be a part of the Rugby World Cup 2011, you need to be at the Great Lake Centre this Thursday for the RWC volunteer roadshow.
NZ2011, the organisers of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, will be in Taupo at the Great Lake Centre this Thursday at 12:30pm for a public roadshow on volunteering for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
New Zealand is expecting around 60,000 international visitors to arrive for the Rugby World Cup 2011. NZ2011 will be looking for a range of people who are enthusiastic, dedicated and committed to serving and hosting our guests. They estimate they will need more than 5,000 volunteers to be the face of New Zealand, on the ground, at stadiums and out in the streets, from one end of the country to the other.
Ex All Black and RWC 2011 Volunteer Ambassador Michael Jones says that there are many different roles on offer for those who are passionate about our country and willing to give their time and energy to support this fantastic event. "In return, we will provide volunteer training and experience that will enhance your skills and abilities, and of course, give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in this fantastic event. Join us to be a part of the team that will make it happen!"
You can't apply until July 14, but for more information come along to the public roadshow this Thursday at the Great Lake Centre, or check out www.rugbyworldcup.com/volunteers .
For further information contact:
Karen Balasoglou, Taupo2011 Coordinator
Taupo District Council
Ph 07 376 0840
www.taupo.govt.nz
END
18 June 2010
Irish rugby management impressed with Taupo facilities
A representative from the Irish Rugby Union visited Taupo yesterday, more than a year before their stay for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and was impressed with what Taupo facilities have to offer.
Irish Rugby Union Team Services Manager Gerard Carmody was in town to inspect the accommodation and training facilities the Irish rugby team will utilize upon their stay during the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
The Irish are basing themselves in Taupo from 18 to 21 September 2011, and will train at Owen Delany Park, as well as the AC Baths and Taupo Events Centre Fitness Suite. Mr Carmody said the facilities were very impressive. "Everything is very nice, you've got some excellent facilities. We're really looking to coming here next year, and I'm sure the boys will have a great time."
Taupo2011 Committee chairman and Councillor Mike Downard says having the Irish stay will be a great pleasure. "Like all the teams staying here, they have chosen Taupo as a base. Not because they have a game here, but because they want to stay here. I know Taupo will make the Irish very welcome, and will paint the town green for them."
The Irish rugby team are currently touring New Zealand, and are playing the New Zealand Maori in Rotorua today, (Friday 18 June).
END
9 June 2010
Taupo2011 ex-pat rugby fans wanted
As part of the lead up to the Rugby World Cup next year the Taupo2011 Organising Committee are calling for expats out of South Africa, Wales and Ireland to make contact.
Councillor Doreen Blyth, who also represents the International Relations Committee, says although we are a long way off actually welcoming the teams to town, now is the time for expats throughout the King Country and Taupo District to get in touch with the committee so they can be listed on the Taupo2011 fan database and kept up to date with preparations.
"I know there will be a lot of our South African, Irish and Welsh living in Taupo who are rugby mad and really excited about having their teams staying here next year," says Clr Blyth. "We are keen to get their details now so that at the appropriate times we will have a good idea of how many fans are living in the district and can plan how we can get them involved."
Councillor Blyth would also like to hear from anyone that has plans to travel to any of these countries. "We have some information packs that you can take with you which highlight Taupo and our involvement in the Rugby World Cup in 2011. They are also a great way to show off where you live."
For more details, call Clr Blyth on 07 378 8774, or email info@taupo2011.co.nz with your contact details.
END
29 April 2010
Pinetree to represent Taupo in 2011
All Black of the century Sir Colin "Pinetree" Meads was at a gathering at Owen Delany Park last week to accept the role of Ambassador of Rugby for Taupo 2011, and help celebrate the new naming rights agreement between King Country Rugby and Taupo Venues.
The ‘Taupo Venues King Country Rams' will be competing in the AA Heartland Championship in the upcoming rugby season. Taupo District Council CEO Rob Williams says the new marketing initiative is a great move for both the venues and King Country Rugby. "How great to see ‘Taupo' on the King Country jersey. It re-establishes the links between Taupo and King Country rugby, and promotes our fantastic venues."
Sir Colin Meads said they would not have gotten away with it 20 years ago. "A lot has changed since then, and I think its great that our regions can work together to promote the game of rugby, especially at this important time given Taupo has done so well in securing not one but three teams to host during the Rugby World Cup Festival."
Pinetree says New Zealand has a unique opportunity given its once in 25 year chance to host the world cup. "We've got to make the most of it and promote the game to our young people. This will be great for New Zealand, and for the game of rugby."
King County Rugby CEO David Trewavas said he has received a lot of interest from the Welsh rugby team about Pinetree, and the opportunity to meet the great man. "Internationally he holds a lot of sway. The Welsh were so keen to meet him; we just had to get him involved. He's very graciously accepted the job of being our Ambassador, which will really put Taupo and King Country on the map."
Mayor Rick Cooper, who was given a signed ball by the All Black, says Taupo will be under the spotlight during the world cup. "We've got the world champions staying here, not because they have to, but because they want to. I think that speaks volumes about us as a district. And now having Sir Colin on-board can only make things more exciting for fans and visitors."
END
9 April 2010
Rugby World Cup preparations begin in earnest...
After securing the hosting rights for three teams during the 2011 Rugby World Cup – South Africa, Ireland and Wales - the committee in charge of overseeing preparations and organising events in Taupo district during the Cup is formed and ready to go.
The inaugural meeting held on Monday 29 March 2010 saw the Committee of Council formally adopt its Terms of Reference, elect Councillor Mich’eal Downard as Chairman, and elect King Country Rugby CEO David Trewavas into the Deputy Chair position.
Chairman Clr Downard says he is very pleased with calibre of Taupo District’s RWC2011 Host Co-ordination Committee. “With Rex Connor and David Trewavas representing both Taupo sub-union and King Country Rugby; David Steele who is heavily involved in sports management; senior representatives from Ngati Tuwharetoa, ex New Zealand Maori Jim Maniapoto and Chulla Wall, kaumatua to past NZ Maori rugby teams; Seamus O’Sullivan from the visitor and events industry; Principal Rachel Chater representing the districts schools; and my fellow councillor, Clr Doreen Blyth who also represents the Taupo International Relations Committee.” Mayor Rick Cooper is also involved ex-officio.
Chairman Clr Downard says one of the first actions of the committee will be to bring together stakeholders from throughout the district to ensure all relevant agencies and individuals that will have key roles to play are part of the preparations right from the start.
He says the Committee already has a long list of relevant parties and will invite them to attend a joint meeting with the committee as soon as possible. “This will allow us to have a meeting of minds, let people know where we are in our planning process, and have discussions on what the event will require in the way of preparation and resources. I know there are lots of groups very keen to be involved and we need to build strong partnerships to create the very best event and visitor experience possible.”
The overall objectives of the Committee are to co-ordinate and oversee preparations to host the visiting teams and to manage the ‘fan zones’. Clr Downard says opportunities like this only come along every twenty to thirty years. “So we need to take every opportunity to promote the game of rugby, and also to showcase our stunning and culturally rich district to the world.”
END
8 April 2010 - The Taupo Weekender
Events
Junior Rugby Tournament
Deloittes National Sports Tournament
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011
Regular Meetings and Activities
