Organisers of a West Auckland junior rugby league tournament expect around 800 tamariki on the field at Te Atatū over the weekend.
Craig Godfrey says Waipareira Māori Rugby League started the tournament because not all whanau can afford the cost of going down to Rotorua for the annual Aotearoa Māori Rugby League tournament.
He says it’s not all about making the rep teams, and the sport needs to be fun as well as being a healthy social lubricant that brings the whanau together.
“We’re looking for kids to learn how to run the ball up, get knocked on your bum, get up again and run the ball again. Those are the sorts of things that are translatable to everything else you want to pursue,” Mr Godfrey says.
