Registrations are open for aspiring young South Island rugby league players at upcoming trials in Nelson and Invercargill this month.
Delivered in partnership between the One New Zealand Warriors and Southern Zone Rugby League, the trials will provide an opportunity for players to push their claims as the Warriors continue to comb the country for talent to join the club’s pathways system.
They follow on from the successful trial played as the curtain raiser to last Saturday’s Anzac Day NRL clash in the Capital when a Wellington Future Warriors Academy side took on a Central Districts Future Warriors Academy selection.
In a match the Wellington selection won 48-20, a number of players caught the eye of Warriors pathways and development staff watching on.
The first of the two South Island trials will be played at Garin College in Nelson on Sunday, May10, drawing on players from the Tasman and West Coast regions. There’ll a concept game for under-14 boys kicking off at 12.00pm followed by under-16 boys at 1.00pm.
In February a Future Warriors camp was held at Nelson College for under-15 boys while the first Harvey Norman Heartland Female Athlete event was also staged at Nelson College last November.
On May 24 there’ll be three concept games for under-14, under-16 and under-18 boys from Southland and Otago at Rugby Park – the Southland Rugby Union’s home – in Invercargill.
“We were excited with the talent we saw from the academy teams in Wellington on Anzac Day. It provided another indication of the huge interest in rugby league and the level of support for the Warriors,” said One New Zealand Warriors recruitment and pathways strategy manager Liam Turner.
“Now it’s the South Island’s turn with two concept games in Nelson and three in Invercargill. It’s a great opportunity for young rugby league and rugby union players to push for a spot in our pathways system.”
Tasman and West Coast | Trials
Sunday, May 10 May
Garin College, Nelson
12.00pm: Under-14 boys
1.00pm: Under-16 boys
Register here
Southland and Otago | Trials
Sunday, May 24
Rugby Park, Invercargill
9.30am: Under-14 boys
11.00am: Under-16 boys
12.30pm: Under-18 boys
Register here
