The Ronnies Boxing Day Touch Rugby Tourney set for Monday, December 26 already looks exciting. It will be played at the Ngatangiia field in both competitive and social categories.

The competitive category consists of two pools (one with four and the other with five teams). They will play a round robin format and then do a crossover, with only the top two teams making it through to play offs where losers are dropped from tourney.

In the social category, four teams will also play a round robin format and then the first place getter will play the fourth-placed team person, whilst second plays third. Losers are dropped from the tourney, and winners will compete in the finals.

In the competitive category, all teams look evenly matched in terms of experience, young blood and skill/speed.

Teams to look out for in this category include the likes of Puna Hiro and team Outlaws, as well as Vou Williams and team Hangover. After the Cook Islands Games, the mighty Nukz Power will be trying hard to make a mark on this Boxing Day tourney.

In the social category, three overseas teams will hit it out with our only local social team, Royales, led by the legendary Kevin Iro. This category looks to be exciting too.

The first game will kick off at 10am. All team leaders and referees are asked to be at the field for a 9am technical meeting to go over rules for the day. Games will be 12 minutes each way with a minute to spare for half time change over and/or next teams to take the field for their games.

Teams are allowed to register 16 players but only 14 can play per game. It will be a full day of games as the last game will be at 3.55pm.

There will be cash prizes for those teams that make the finals in both categories, as well as top-up vouchers.

Cook Islands Touch Association president, Julz Westrupp would like to thank their two major sponsors, Bank of the Cook Islands and Vodafone.

Westrupp would also like to thank Tukaka Ama for the venue and the service given with the field.

She would also like to thank her executive team for all the hard work done this year. They are Daphne Hosking Brown, Rima Browne and Tiana Joryna Pokura.

“A very small team but strong in terms of getting things done,” says Westrupp. “To those that volunteered their time during the year, thank you very much.”

This year has been a successful one for touch rugby and Cook Islands Touch Association looks forward to 2023 – especially with the Pacific Games being played in November 2023.