Aspiring rugby league players will get a chance to learn the tricks of the trade from Cook Islands international and CK Athletic co-founder Kiana Takairangi.

Takairangi will holding a free Junior Rugby League Skills Clinic on Wednesday, January 4 at Nukupure Park in Ngatangiia.

The session from 9am to 12 noon will be for boys and girls aged six to 12 years.

It will be conducted by Takairangi and fellow NRL Women players including Tayla Preston, Maddie Studdon and others.

Cook Islands Rugby League secretary Francis Toa, who is taking registration for interested players, said this was an opportunity not to be missed.

“The parents and the young ones should take advantage of this clinic. The last time we had something like this was way before Covid and I hope this will be start to many other development courses coming our way from Cook Islanders overseas returning to give back to the community,” Toa said.

“We are so grateful to Kiana and her team for taking time out for our kids.”

Interested participants can register by contacting Toa on 56237 or email francis.toa@metisgl.com.

“We need interested kids to start registering so Kiana can plan her programme, it will be a structure clinic – not like what we do here – and she needs the numbers so she can plan properly.

“The more the merrier, we are hoping to turn this clinic into a mini festival in lead up to the start of the rugby league season which begins with the Nines later in the weekend.”

Cook Islands Rugby League president Charles Carlson said having these ladies from NRL assisting the juniors would certainly be a big boost to local development.

“We just ask for more club junior coaches and managers to assist with this event and also take advantage of this clinic for juniors. Every club should have junior grades and there is no excuse why they should not have one,” Carlson said.

“While migration may have impacted our senior grades the population at junior age group remains, it’s just there is a lack of coaches and managers that are passionate about the game.

“We hope to see a large number of girls involved in junior development, especially with the growing interest given our Cook Islands women are now ranked sixth in the world and qualified for the World Cup 2025 in France.”

Toa is also calling on sponsors to help out with a barbeque (BBQ) for participants after the clinic.

“We want to put together a barbeque and some sausage sizzles and we are asking sponsors to come onboard and help us put together this after clinic refreshment for kids and facilitators.”