Avatea capped Rippa rugby champs

Form two students of Avatea School won gold at yesterday’s CI News primary schools mixed rippa rugby championships.

Avatea School dominated the field and backed up their gold medal win last year with a second year of being crowned rippa champions.

The silver went to Arorangi, bronze to Nikao Maori School and the consolation to Te Uki Ou.

Cook Islands Rugby Union chief executive officer Ben Koteka says rippa rugby and tournaments such as yesterday’s are very important for kids who take part as part of their personal sports development.

The mixed games are also an opportunity for girls to actively take part and showcase their skills with the globe experiencing a growth in women’s rugby.

“Each team had four girls and four boys on the field. There had to be four girls on the field at all times. Quite apart from helping them with their playing, this is also a way of promoting the local girls’ rugby team,” says Koteka.

The championships were scored with a difference.

“Every try made by a girl was worth two points and a try by boys was worth one point,” says Koteka.

The games were also a way of getting the community together after the recent Nukutere and Avatea fires.

“This was a way of rallying the troops and especially the schools affected by the fire. We are all a big happy family and we are in this together,” says Koteka.

Four happy teams and 80 happy kids resulted in a very happy afternoon for everyone who contributed.