Auckland rugby league veteran Rusty Matua says he’s blown away by the growth of Tag – the non-contact version of the game.
The Junior Oceania Tag Cup for age 16s and under, held Ngāti Otara Park over the weekend drew 366 teams and was played over 39 fields.
He says it had a similar feeling as waka ama events.
“Just massive numbers of positive Maori who are there for positive reasons and you know its always good to gather for something positive too – rather than waiting for a tangi where you all get together as whanau and that. And you know getting those team dynamics going as well – you see the hakas out there, and its all about celebrating their culture, so it’s fantastic,” Mr Matua says.
This week its the turn of the seniors to take over Ngāti Otara Park – with teams from Whangarei to the South Island competing.
