Cook Islands Touch Association received a timely boost from a visiting Touch enthusiast from New Zealand this week.

Alan Davidson, who ran Touch modules in Christchurch for Halswell Touch, presented the national association with much needed equipment such as balls, cones, rule books, refs’ cards, score cards, etc.

Due to Covid-19 related restrictions, there was no Touch competition held in the past two years in Halswell and the equipment Alan donated to Cook Islands Touch had been sitting in a garage unused.

“It’s been sitting in the garage for two years and we thought why don’t we give it to someone who wants it and will enjoy using it,” Alan said.

The presentation on Monday to Cook Islands Touch president Julz Westrupp was attended by his Whakatane-based sister Arlene, who is also here on holiday, and their cousin Terry Rangi.

Westrupp said: “We are very grateful for his awesome donation which will really help the association with our season, one day competitions and even the upcoming Cook Islands Games.”

The visitors stayed back after the presentation to witness some open men’s and women’s matches and were pleased with the level of competition.

The siblings along with other family members are here to visit their mother’s grave and celebrate Alan’s 60^th birthday today. Their mum Elizabeth married Keith Davidson and left Rarotonga in the 1950s.