News

Bhana Family Farms will power Counties Manukau Secondary Schools Rugby in a new initiative that will help grow the sport across the region.

Competition begins this week, and the season was launched on Wednesday night at Navigation Homes Stadium.

The announcement that secondary schools rugby will be supported by Bhana Family Farms also includes sponsorship of a SS Game of the Week in which the player of the match will be supplied with bags of potatoes.

“A huge thanks for Bhana Family Farms for coming on board to help grow secondary schools rugby in Counties Manukau,” said CMRFU Head of Community Matt Megaw.

“It is great to have them helping us grow this crucial space and is another significant step forward for the competition. I’d also like to acknowledge the great work of our Head of Commercial, Andy Phillips, to be able to secure a Secondary School partner.”

Bhana Family Farms company director, Woodsy Bhana, said the partnership was a great fit for them as “we believe in nurturing both talent and supporting our local community. We look forward to being part of growing the secondary school competition and pathways alongside Counties Manukau Rugby."

A new Secondary School 1st XV Challenge Shield will be up for grabs this season.  The inaugural holder will be determined by the winner of the Papakura High School and Waiuku College match in next week’s first round of competition. The match was selected out of a hat at Wednesday night’s launch.

The shield will be up for grabs at every round robin game. The holder at the end of round robin receives a $1000 Gilbert voucher and a visit from the team with Bhana Farms potatoes.

This week the 1st XV teams will be playing their final pre-season fixtures with Pukekohe High School 1st XV taking on Papakura High School at Pukekohe on Saturday.

• Pukekohe High School XVA hosts Rosehill College while Waiuku College travels to Manurewa High School.
• The Tuakau College pre-season game is still to be determined.
• The 1st XV Boys first round of competition kicks off on Saturday 18th May.
• The Girls’ 12s competition will be front and centre this week and will see Alfriston College host James Cook High in the opening round and will also feature as our Secondary Schools Game of the Week.
• Elsewhere, Tuakau College travels to Pukekohe High, while Papakura High School hosts Waiuku College.
• The Under 15 and Under 14 grades also gets into action this Saturday.
• In the Under 15s, Te Kauwhata hosts Tuakau College while Papakura High Schools goes up against Pukekohe High School while Waiuku College travel to take on Alfriston College.
• Counties Manukau’s newest school St Ignatius get their first game in the Under 14s competition against Wesley College, while Pukekohe High School meets Waiuku College.