Eleventh Local Legends Grant Winner

Congratulations to our Eleventh Local Legends Grant Winner the Rangataua RFC U18 Boys 7’s Team!

Rugby is a sport that is deeply rooted in New Zealand’s culture, and the Rangataua RFC U18 7’s team is no exception. They are a small, whanau focused, community and cultural club that has a long history.

These young athletes are passionate about rugby and have been working hard to hone their skills and improve their performance. Situated in Maungatapu and sharing their sports grounds with their Marae, their motto is ‘we may be small, but we dream big’.

One big dream is to attend the Tropical Rugby 7’s Tournament in Tampa, Florida, where the opportunity to play in front of American University and College talent scouts could open doors to for selection to play Rugby professionally.
The team rallied together as many whanau and friends as possible, voting for them daily, sending texts, emails and setting up reminders, and it was this determination that secured them the highest number of votes and consequently awarded the $5,000 Local Legends Grant.

Team Manager, Cheri Parkinson explains ‘This grant means a lot to the team and is a testament to the hard work and commitment of all our supporters. Without sponsorship like the Local Legends Grant, we just wouldn’t be able to afford to give our boys the experience of high-level sport and the prospect of international contracts’.

We wish them all the best on their journey to Tampa, Florida.