Team in peak condition for Cup

Superior fitness has seen all Rarotonga-based touch rugby players selected into the national squad to play at the touch rugby World Cup in Scotland next month.

The training squad from Rarotonga took part in a trial and training camp with overseas-based players in Auckland over the Easter weekend.

Over the weekend trials the local players experienced playing and training in temperatures much like what they will experience in Scotland 18 degrees or less.

The trialing players took on Aucklands top team Freezin Hot on the last day of the camp where they came out victors with a 4-point win.

At the end of the day their fitness trumped over Freezin Hot, evident by the pace of their game being consistent and at times getting faster towards the end of the game thanks to all the hard work and training the boys have been doing here for the last 4 months, says team manager Olivia Heather.

As well as all the locally-based players making the cut, a new addition has been pulled into the squad in Avatiu speedster Andrew Mokoroa who passed all the fitness tests despite his late entry.

The national touch rugby squad to represent the Cook Islands at the World Cup next month includes Andrew Mokoroa, Kristopher Williamson, Apii Rau, Pokoroa Pauka, Conrad Piri, Teariki Mateariki, Geoffrey Halston (player/coach), Wallace Aroita and Gordon Heather. They will be joined by oversees players including Brian Adams (NZ player/coach) Cameron Adams (Australia), Vairaro Mahutariki (London), Ben Tokahere (NZ), Noovao Noovao (Australia) and Teariki Mahutariki (London).

The Cook Islands have been drawn in a new pool and will play Austria, Netherlands, Japan and South Africa first up in the competition.

While all looks great on the fitness and training side of things, the locally-based players still have a number of fundraising events to cover the costs of travelling to Scotland for the World Cup.

A zumba fundraiser takes place this evening at the Telecom Sports Arena with tickets selling for $7 each.

Light refreshments and fruits will be served after the two-hour Zumba cardio workout with some fantastic prizes to give away that follow the evenings theme of tight and bright.

So, break out that leopard print and fluro tights, sweat bands and get on up to the TSA and support the local touch rugby players.