Wakatipu junior rugby gets boost from Skyline Queenstown

Almost 200 Queenstown kids will begin their rugby season this Saturday wearing brand new jerseys donated to the Wakatipu Junior Rugby Club.

Skyline Queenstown has sponsored the jerseys for the entire junior club, as well as providing Gondola and Luge rides as prizes for the most committed player of each team every week for the next six years.

Thirteen teams ranging from Under 7s to Under 13 open grades will wear the Wakatipu light blue and dark blue strip. Where there are multiple teams in the same grade, some teams will wear the alternate dark/light blue strip.

Past Wakatipu Junior Rugby Club captain Damien O’Connell says the club is thrilled with the sponsorship deal as it means the club will have jerseys of the same quality, style and condition for years to come.

“Purchasing jerseys is something the club would normally do gradually, over time. Having them all the same condition means continual replacement isn’t necessary. These jerseys could last the club eight-to-10 years,” O’Connell says.

“As a club we’re constantly fundraising and to have the jerseys paid for like this is brilliant. The kids are really excited too. Some of them don’t even know they’re getting new jerseys, or Skyline prizes for the ‘most committed player of the week’, but when they do find out they will be stoked.”

Skyline General Manager Lyndon Thomas says supporting the Wakatipu Junior Rugby Club was an obvious choice. Skyline also sponsors the senior Wakatipu Rugby Club.

“It’s fantastic to see the junior club has strong numbers and we want to help encourage camaraderie and team work amongst the local kids at a grass-roots level. We’re passionate about giving back to the local community and we are delighted to help the club in this way,” Thomas says.

As part of its sponsorship, Skyline will host the junior club’s end-of-season prize giving.

Old jerseys will be donated to rugby clubs in the Pacific Islands.

The club’s first games kick off this Saturday, May 7, at the Queenstown Events Centre.

ENDS

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