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Red and black fires Arorangi pride
Saturday 24: Wear your colours with pride and do our village proud.
This was one message of encouragement given to the Arorangi under 15 and 18 league team who gathered at their club on Wednesday night for the blessing of their new playing uniforms.
The under 15 and 18 league players have been in the Arorangi league junior development programme for three years, but they have had to borrow the Arorangi rugby union uniforms when theyve played.
Thanks to the generosity of their major sponsors T&M Heather and Nukurangi Builders, the youngsters now have their own playing uniforms including socks, shorts and jerseys in the villages traditional black and red colours. The two teams even have non playing t-shirts, also in red, with their sponsors names printed on it including their own TEAM acronym which stands for t-together, e-everyone, a-achieves, m-more.
The youngsters were told that if they were not playing league but heading to the field they should wear their team uniforms so they look tidy as they represent the entire village.
The players came up with their own design for their new uniform after their Saturday working bees to raise funds to purchase and print their gear.
They also raised enough funds to purchase new sports equipment to help with their development.
Present at the uniform blessing were members of the Arorangi Sports Association and league club who all reminded the young players that when they pull on their jerseys they were representing the village.
The two teams were encouraged to get out and train for the forthcoming season and to put their all into their games. They were given the old-fashioned advice that if they were not feeling a hundred percent, they should suck it in.
Club patron William Heather shared a few thoughts with those gathered for the special occasion. He told the players to be proud when they wear their uniform and that they should always remember they are a reflection of the community and the village.
Kare ko koe, kare ko au, ko tatou (Its not you, its not me, its us), Heather told the boys.
The boys were also warned that the uniforms are not for wearing out or for wearing in the taro patch.
So when you see the dangerous red and black colours of the Arorangi youths on the field be prepared. - MW
League sevens a good pre-season hit out
Monday 26: The Tupapa Panthers took out the two-day league sevens tournament on Friday and Saturday after disposing of the Golden Bears 18-6 in the finals of the tournament.
The Panthers and the Bears were the top two teams in Pool A while the Avatiu B team and the Bulldogs rose to the top of pool B.
Tupapa stormed the Bulldogs in the first semi final match while the Bears ripped apart the Avatiu B for a Panthers and Bears showdown.
The highly fancied Golden Eels team from Avatiu certainly looked to be the team to beat throughout the competition but failed to top their pool.
The final day of competition on Saturday drew a moderate but boisterous crowd to the Ngatangiia field who all enjoyed the pre season tournament.
Most impressive during the competition were the under 21 players who played with plenty of passion and guts.
Cook Islands Rugby League Association president Charles Carlson says that due to the success of the two-day tournament they are thinking of making the tournament a permanent fixture on the league calendar.
He says that the tournament was also a great opportunity for league selectors to scout for potential Pacific Mini Games squad members.
The league season gets underway on Saturday 6 February. - Matariki Wilson
League braces for new club season
Tuesday 27: The Rarotonga club rugby league season will get underway on February 6.
Final details now being finalised on the number of teams clubs will be registering for this years competition.
The six clubs on Rarotonga had the opportunity to dust off their cobwebs when they took part in the two-day league sevens tournament at the weekend. It was taken out by 2008 club league champions the Tupapa Panthers.
The Aitutaki Sharks are also geared up for the new season and have been part of the Rarotonga tournament since 2006.
However, their inclusion has also meant extra costs, mostly in airfares, for the Rarotonga clubs as each team must travel to Aitutaki to play the Sharks but the Aitutaki team have to travel to Rarotonga at least six times to play the Rarotonga clubs.
This is one of the issues that the league association is currently sorting out before confirming the teams, grades and draw for the season.
Despite the high cost of getting Rarotonga club teams to Aitutaki, many of the clubs have not minded especially if they are given the time to fundraise for the trip.
The six clubs on Rarotonga have again supported the inclusion of the Sharks in this years competition which is set to be a scorcher with players vying for places in the Cook Islands Games squad in April and the September Pacific Mini Games squad. - Matariki Wilson
