Final ‘hit out’

Today’s golden oldies rugby match will be their final ‘hit out’ before next week’s ‘test match’ between the Cook Islands and visiting New Zealand parliamentarian teams.

The Kiwi parliamentarian team will arrive on Tuesday and play their ‘test’ against the host Cook Islands on Wednesday before a few days of rest and relaxation prior to returning to Aotearoa on Saturday.

The last time that these two teams played was in 2009, and in a hard-fought match, the New Zealand parliamentarians won 15-10.

Today’s game will also be a memorial match for Papa William ‘Jap’ Heather who passed away last Sunday at his home in Arorangi.

Papa Jap (as he was commonly known) was born and bred in Arorangi, a staunch rugby man, a very passionate sportsman, coach, administrator at all levels.

He was the team manager of the Cook Islands Team that travelled to Tahiti for the South Pacific Games in 1971.

Papa Jap was often heard imparting to young sports people one of his favourite sayings of ‘go forward, die forward – give blood’ – a spirit the golden oldies rugby players will be playing their game in today.

Today’s memorial game will kick off at 5pm and all are invited to get along to the Nikao field to see the local oldies unveil their strategic plans ahead of their test match against the visiting Kiwis.