Pupil-led rugby tournament teaching ‘skills for growing’

Mills Walker and Mitchell Newton with the "Quad Nations" shield, ready for the tournament today....
Mills Walker and Mitchell Newton with the "Quad Nations" shield, ready for the tournament today. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG
West Gore School will host a rugby tournament today — by pupils, for pupils.

Mills Walker, 11, and Mitchell Newton, 10, channelled their passion for rugby into a tournament held between all four primary schools in Gore.

Mills said the tournament, which would be held in the paddock near West Gore School, had been in the works for most of the school year.

"We made this rugby tournament because we have this learning through play at school and we had no project, so we came up with this rugby tournament for all four schools.

"It’s been on since February," he said.

Mitchell said the games in the "Quad Nations" tournament were shorter to accommodate all the matches.

"Each school will play three games, with 20-minute halves with a 10-minute break in-between," he said.

The grand prize is a ceremonial shield, made by Mills’ grandparents.

Mitchell said there was a catch for the winner.

"If they win, they have to host it the next year. So it will keep going each year, the co-ordination will happen next year and hopefully the next year," he said.

Mills said the two were big rugby fans.

"Oh, a massive passion for it. We’ve played it since we were little," he said.

Their teacher Rachael Flaus said the boys had shown amazing determination and perseverance in organising the event.

"There have been quite a few roadblocks, waiting on emails or correspondence with other schools, but without a doubt they’ve persevered, really thought outside the square and done stuff off their own backs," she said.

Ms Flaus said the boys had grown a lot and shown a lot of independence.

"The skills they’ve learned along the way, their ability to communicate with adults via email, creating draws, we call these our skills for growing.

"So communicating, being a team player, problem solving, I’ve really only had to be here to double check before sending emails."

gerrit.doppenberg@alliedpress.co.nz