A touch of rugby

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 509, 26 October 1993, Page 12

A touch of rugby

by Jenelle Frewen Touch rugby is back in Waiouru for the 1993/94 season and as popular as ever with the number of teams registered this year climbing to 30. In line with its popularity is the hefty $4000 prize pool available to winners in the men's, women' s and mixed divisions. The current competition, which began last Thursday evening, will run until 9 December. This competition is designed to allow players to regain their long-lost fitness and to check their fellow competitor's form before the serious competition begins in earnest in January of next year. Lion Breweries and the Oasis Hotel of Waiouru are the sponsors for the competition so, as one can imagine, beer will play a large role in the after-match festivities. Teams must consist of 14 members

with seven on the field during the two 15minute halves of the game. Three team vacancies are still available in the women' s competition and one is available in the men's. Ants Patia, one of the competitions' organisers, in trying to account for the unparalleled popularity of touch rugby, suggested that the social aspects of the game were its biggest attraction. "It' s a game that everyone can play, both men and women and we' ve tried to make it civilian orientated, so we have teams entered from Taihape, Raetihi and Ohakune as well as Waiouru." Apart from all that there is also the fashion aspect of the game and for some it seems there is no better opportunity to pull on their loudest pair of shorts before taking to the field.