Harlequins donate rugby jerseys

Outer islands junior rugby is set to get a boost with the donation of playing jerseys thanks to the Rongokea family of Arorangi and the Harlequins Rugby Club in Blenheim.

Outer islands junior rugby is set to get a boost with the donation of playing jerseys thanks to the Rongokea family of Arorangi and the Harlequins Rugby Club in Blenheim.

Among the donated goods in the 20-foot container for Avatea School were boxes of rugby jerseys donated by the South Islands rugby club.

There is a strong rugby and family connection between the town of Blenheim and the Cook Islands with a number of rising rugby players in training in the town.

The donation of jerseys came about when the Rongokea family were helping the book drive for Avatea School and the Harlequins Rugby Club in Blenheim offered rugby jerseys.

Pare Rongokea, husband of passionate mum behind the book drive Andrea Rongokea, has played for the club when the family were staying in the town and accepted the jersey donation.

The donations have been delivered to the Cook Islands Rugby Union and the outer islands junior rugby teams have been targeted to receive the donations as part of the local union’s junior development.

“This is really great,” says CIRU chief executive Ben Koteka.

“We are so grateful for the generous support for our junior development programmes here where we emphasise creating pathways from home.”

The local rugby season kicks off in June and rugby in schools is set to begin shortly.

CIRU would like to thank the Rongokea family and Harlequins Rugby Club in Blenheim for the generous and greatly appreciated donation.