Three teams from the Waihī Junior Rugby Club returned home from the New Zealand Junior Rugby Festival in Taupō with the ultimate prize.
A total of 134 teams competed from 67 clubs, in 688 games over two venues from September 19 to September 22.
The festival celebrated juniors from every provincial rugby union in the North Island, and teams from the South Island and Australia.
Waihī sent teams for Under 10s 49kg grade, Under 11s 49kg and Under 12s 57kg.
Waihī Rugby Club’s Judah Matauia volunteered as a referee for the entire weekend.
Judah won the Tournament Referee Award for his devotion, working incredibly hard throughout the entire weekend as the youngest referee at Taupo Tournament.
The Overall Best Team Award has not been given to a team in New Zealand since 2017 and this year the Waihī Under 12s team took it home.
Whichever team has the most points across all the grades wins the ultimate prize.
Sportsmanship, sideline behaviour, contributing to keeping the festival clean and litter free, along with strong results wins this award.
NZJRF said the Waihī Under 12s team won this award “head and shoulders above the rest”.
Waihī Under 10s 49kg team also won the Team of the Festival Award 2024.
Waihī Under 10s team finished with the most points overall in their grade.
Waihī Junior Rugby Club tournament organiser Jessica Crockett said “we are incredibly proud of the sportsmanship our teams showed this weekend, representing our club with mana and strength”.
“It took a lot for our kids to get to the tournament – the dedicated coaches, managers, whānau help and sponsorship.
“All the teams supported each other with our club’s haka before games, our supporters were positive on the sidelines, some of our kids even led rubbish pick ups throughout the festival,” she said.
“The results show with the positive values our kids get out of coming together and playing rugby.
“These will be memories for a lifetime for them.”
