NZ's top young league players in Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 550, 23 August 1994, Page 11

NZ's top young league players in Waiouru

Twelve Rugby League provincial teams from throughout New Zealand are competing in Waiouru this week. The 17 years' National Rugby League Tournament finishes on Thursday with a clash between old time rivals Auckland and Canterbury at 2.45pm. National Development Co-ordinator Richard Bolton said the aim of the tournament is to provide players with the opportunity to represent their province and give them the chance to play against other provinces. National selectors are in Waioum and they will be picking a team for the national 1 7 ' s side that will attend a training camp later in the year. Mr Bolton said the best coaches in New Zealand will be at the camp being held in Hopu Hopu (near Ngaruawahia) and this is the first year the camp will be opened up to other players who want to learn and train along side

the national team. The 17's tournament is sponsored by Pepsi and this year New Zealand Rugby League along with the New Zealand Warriors are giving away two scholarship awards, one to the best back and one to the best forward. Mr Bolton said the two recipients will have their tuition fees for education paid for and be able to spend time in The Warriors camp and attend the camps. All players at this year's tournament will have the opportunity to learn from top rugby league men such as Frank Endacott (New Zealand Rugby League Kiwi coach) and Graham Carden (general manager for Rugby League New Zealand). The young hopefuls will also meet conditioning and weight training experts. Mr Bolton said that Graham Lowe was expected to attend the tournament but was unfortunately in hospital.