Henry only new face at CIRU

Aitutaki businessman Mike Henry is the only new addition to the Cook Islands Rugby Union executive committee after the association held its annual general meeting on Tuesday. (April 13).

John Wichman remains president, with hardworking chief executive Ben Koteka continuing for another two years.

Prime minister Jim Marurai is the patron of the association with Air New Zealand manager David Bridge the vice-patron.

Puai Wichma is the association’s vice president with passionate rugby administrator Lara Sadaraka the secretary.

Sadaraka is also the driving force behind the growing interest in women’s rugby in the Cook Islands.

Mike Henry will support Sadaraka as the assistant secretary.

Mark Brown is the treasurer and Papa Tom Wills the assistant treasurer.

The Rarotonga 2010 club rugby season plans were also unveiled during the AGM with the season due to start on June 5 with three weeks of pre-season sevens.

The club 15-a-side season kicks-off on June 26.

The domestic sevens and 15s season will run for 22 weeks split into nine weeks of sevens and 13 weeks of 15-a-side rugby.

The season will end in the early November with the highly anticipated CIRU International Sevens Tournament.

With rugby sevens now being an Olympic sport there will be an increased number of sevens competitions throughout the season, again with continued development of junior, college age and women’s rugby.