Festive fun at Boxing Day touch

After a successful year of international and regional achievements for Cook Islands touch rugby players – the annual Boxing Day Touch Tournament on December 26 will be a festive family affair with much to celebrate. Registrations for the highly popular family-oriented touch rugby day, now in its 23rd year of running, are now open. The tournament will include a division for the more social players in the social mixed division, while those die-hard serious touch players can display their skills in the mixed open division. At this stage, the Cook Islands Touch Rugby Association are planning a 16-team tournament and teams planning to be part of this action-packed day of touch rugby are encouraged to contact Daphne Brown on 54171 to avoid the disappointment of missing out. The fun day-long tournament is a great way for family groups to bond and burn off the Christmas umukai. For sports teams such as the rugby league clubs preparing for the New Year Bluesky 9s Tournament, it’s also an opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and for groups of friends and work colleagues it’s simply a chance to enjoy a social day out. As the tournament is right in the middle of the festive season, teams are encouraged to get funky with their team uniform and dress up for a great social day out. Registrations are $120 per team and all teams must provide a referee. Fantastic prizes from touch rugby sponsors are up for grabs for the top teams and a whole day of skilful action is on the cards for all. Touch rugby successes in 2015 include a World Cup medal where the over 30 men’s team won bronze, and a raft of medals from the Pacific Games in PNG, will be celebrated at the touch rugby carnival with some of the stars from both events sure to shine on the field. This year’s tournament will be held at Aretere Park, commonly known at the Avatiu Swamp, with games kicking off at 9am on December 26. The tournament also marks the end of the year-long celebration marking 50 years of self-government, so gather up the family, church group or your mates and get along to the Swamp for the Boxing Day tournament. Anyone keen to be part of the tournament and to take up the whistle to officiate games, should call Edith Nicholas on 50130. - MW/Mana Media

After a successful year of international and regional achievements for Cook Islands touch rugby players – the annual Boxing Day Touch Tournament on December 26 will be a festive family affair with much to celebrate. Registrations for the highly popular family-oriented touch rugby day, now in its 23rd year of running, are now open. The tournament will include a division for the more social players in the social mixed division, while those die-hard serious touch players can display their skills in the mixed open division. At this stage, the Cook Islands Touch Rugby Association are planning a 16-team tournament and teams planning to be part of this action-packed day of touch rugby are encouraged to contact Daphne Brown on 54171 to avoid the disappointment of missing out. The fun day-long tournament is a great way for family groups to bond and burn off the Christmas umukai. For sports teams such as the rugby league clubs preparing for the New Year Bluesky 9s Tournament, it’s also an opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and for groups of friends and work colleagues it’s simply a chance to enjoy a social day out. As the tournament is right in the middle of the festive season, teams are encouraged to get funky with their team uniform and dress up for a great social day out. Registrations are $120 per team and all teams must provide a referee. Fantastic prizes from touch rugby sponsors are up for grabs for the top teams and a whole day of skilful action is on the cards for all. Touch rugby successes in 2015 include a World Cup medal where the over 30 men’s team won bronze, and a raft of medals from the Pacific Games in PNG, will be celebrated at the touch rugby carnival with some of the stars from both events sure to shine on the field. This year’s tournament will be held at Aretere Park, commonly known at the Avatiu Swamp, with games kicking off at 9am on December 26. The tournament also marks the end of the year-long celebration marking 50 years of self-government, so gather up the family, church group or your mates and get along to the Swamp for the Boxing Day tournament. Anyone keen to be part of the tournament and to take up the whistle to officiate games, should call Edith Nicholas on 50130. - MW/Mana Media