Rugby takes the children under its wings
In an ingenious move at acquiring publicity, the organizers of the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2011 have entered into collaboration with the schools of Auckland to launch an educational program in the region based on Rugby. The Mayor of Auckland Len Brown and the Rugby organizers including the New Zealand Rugby Union mascot Rugger were present at Kelston Primary School where the program was launched yesterday amidst wide applause from the children. In addition, the former All Black player Inga Tuigamala got to go back to his former school to present to the principal, Cliff Hughes a rugby ball. This was only one of the 24 balls that shall be presented to the schools that have been invited as a part of the program to be present in the opening ceremony at Queens Wharf.
The entire program is expected to cost around $350,000 and 175,000 primary and intermediate students are expected to participate in it. The program, in addition to organizing a wide variety of activities shall teach the students English, social science, maths, physical education as well as geography. It also aims to distribute amongst the children, hats, badges, stickers as well as numerous other educational tools. It is being hoped that all of Auckland’s 500 schools teaching at primary and intermediate levels shall eventually be brought into the fold of the program. In an interview, the Mayor of the city expressed the wish to see the schools support and even possibly host one of the rugby teams for the World Cup. According to him:
"It's just important that the kids are totally involved in hosting the Rugby World Cup, that they understand it, that they enjoy the action.”
For the mayor, allowing the children to host rugby in this special manner was not a political or diplomatic move but rather the exhibition of the traditional friendliness and hospitality of New Zealand to the world. According to him, who could better greet the teams when they arrived in New Zealand than the youth of the country? In his words:
"We don't have the deepest pockets but we have the friendly, most hospitable way and we are renowned for that globally ... The kids are going to be at the forefront of that."
The program shall be quite beneficial for the Rugby Union for it shall boast numbers dramatically. Unwilling parents shall be brought by force to the stadiums by children who over the year would have been converted into diehard rugby fans. It promises to be a great experience for the children who, in addition to engaging with the players, shall be able to learn about the teams as well as their respective countries. They will become part a holistic experience in which they shall acquire general knowledge regarding the competing nations and the history of rugby as well as have a fair bit of fun while they are at it. It can also become a learning experience for the teachers who will be able to see the benefits of engaging children in international sports activities. Bringing the schools under its wings is clearly a goal for the New Zealand Rugby Union and with the way things are going, they seem quite buoyant to achieve it.
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