The countdown is on to the third annual Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival, taking place Whakatāne – the North Island’s sunshine capital – at the end of next week. 

Organised by Global Games, this major sports event will run from 7 – 9 September, with junior players coming from around New Zealand to participate in the sport they love and compete against their peers for three fun-filled days at Whakatāne’s Rugby Park. 

Global Games Events Director, Ty Campbell, says word about the event is spreading and the Kiwi Junior League festival is becoming a true highlight of the junior sporting calendar. "It takes three years to fully establish an event," he says. "We feel that this year, we will really be hitting the mark with where we want the festival to be. It's now a part of the calendar for a number of junior clubs and they look forward to attending each year."

The Kiwi Junior League Festival provides a unique opportunity for young players to not only play the game that they love, but also to travel away with their teammates and support crew – often for the first time – and to create new friendships and enduring memories.

Teams compete across three grades – Under-10s, Under-11s and Under-12s – with 12 to 15 teams playing in each age bracket. After a season of playing together, the Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival provides a superb opportunity for teams to solidify their connection and truly challenge themselves against players they wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to meet on their local turf.

"2018 will be our third tournament and this year, we’re putting in teams for the under 10s and under 12s," says Caleb Ahu from local Whakatāne club the Mataatua Saddlebacks. 

"We have a very proud community here in Whakatāne, with a lot of humble, hardworking people who give a lot back. Our club is very kaupapa-driven, it’s a way of life for the kids and families involved and for them to be able to participate in a festival like this is great. You see the looks on the kids' faces when they're taking their celebration photos, or when they're doing their haka – there are some really cool moments."

The Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival is designed to maximise time both on and off-pitch. When they're not playing, teams will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful Whakatāne region, take in the genuine heartland hospitality and experience the abundance of local activities and natural attractions.

"We are really excited about this year's event, which will be our biggest rugby league festival to date," says Ty Campbell. "We are seeing really strong interest from the South Island particularly, with hundreds of people making the trip up each year to take part. Four clubs are even pre-registered for next year year’s event."

The Celebration Lions Rugby League Club from Christchurch will have a big crew attending the 2018 festival in Whakatāne. "We heard about the Festival from other teams within our club who attended last year’s event," says club co-ordinator, Jasmine Wynyard. "All of the kids and parents who attended last year had nothing but good things to say, so we thought the 2018 festival would be a great goal for our kids to work on together.

"Most of all we’re looking forward to having fun," Jasmine says. “But also it’s about sharing some quality time together as a team, enjoying the atmosphere and playing some footy. The boys have all worked really hard this season and we’re looking forward to some relaxing time, meeting the other teams and representing our club."

The Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival aims to empower young players in a unified and inspiring way, regardless of backgrounds or which club they represent, creating experiences and building memories that will last a lifetime.