More than 100 children gathered at the National Stadium in Nikao yesterday to learn from the best of Cook Islands Rugby League international stars as part of the Cook Islands Athletic Development Junior Rugby League Clinic.

The Junior Rugby League Clinic was hosted by Cook Islands internationals Kiana Takairangi, Zane Tetevano, Brad Takairangi, Tiana Penitani and Corban Baxter.

Cook Islands Rugby League (CIRL) general secretary Francis Toa (Franky) said this was the third year that the CK Athletic held a junior development programme in the country.

Toa said the national women’s skipper Kiana was leading the charge with Baxter.

Cook Islands Moana skipper Kiana Takairangi conducts the clinic. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/25011005

“Corban is the vice-captain for the Sydney Roosters NRL team and Kiana comes out of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL women's club. So for us, for the Cook Islands Rugby League, it’s a big thing,” Toa said.

“We have now managed to connect with our own players there (overseas) and they’re actually making time to come back here and support our programme. Thanks to Kiana, she’s helped to give a lot of this programme international exposure.”

Toa was happy with the registration, saying they had over 100 children taking part in yesterday’s clinic.

She said that the programme coordinators also brought over Kiana’s brother, Cook Islands men’s team captain Brad Takairangi.

“We have a women’s captain and men’s captain,” Toa said.

“Brad brought in Zane Tetevano, who’s another rep at senior level, and they’ve also brought in other Cook Islanders and their friends have come down here for this tournament. It all just makes it a lot more interesting.”

More than 100 children gathered at the National Stadium in Nikao yesterday for the Cook Islands Athletic Development Junior Rugby League Clinic. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/25011004

National reps Tyler Birch, Kerehitina Matua and Ngatokotoru Arakua are also here for the League Nines in Paradise tournament. They were at the clinic yesterday.

The Junior Rugby League Clinic that provided an excellent opportunity for children to learn the sport in a fun environment ended at midday yesterday.

The free rugby programme was also an opportunity for the children to learn the tricks and skills of rugby league.

The first 100 kids that registered received a CK Athletic shirt.