Auckland Rugby League announce zone support agreement with Akarana and Counties Manukau Zones

The Auckland Rugby League is pleased to announce a zone support agreement with Akarana and Counties Manukau Zones.

The Auckland Rugby League will provide financial support to both Akarana and Counties Manukau Zones to focus on the delivery of representative programmes for zone players. This will include uniforms and travel.

The primary intention of this agreement is to eliminate the need for selected players to fund their own participation in junior representative tournaments and to ensure representative teams are outfitted to a high standard.

"The Counties Manukau Zone is pleased to be working in an Auckland wide partnership with the Auckland Rugby League," says Trevor Gill, Chairman of Counties Manukau.

"The delivery of quality outcomes in Auckland is a collective responsibility and the support from the Auckland Rugby League is going to make a difference as it’s tagged for age group representative football.

"We anticipate a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the Auckland Rugby League," he says.

Cameron McGregor who is on the Board of Akarana says the Akarana Zone has struggled financially and the support from the Auckland Rugby League will help with representative team costs, the zone and players in the Auckland region.

"This is a generous offer from the Auckland Rugby League and will lead to a more united partnership for the game and governance in Auckland moving forward," McGregor adds.

As part of this agreement, Akarana and Counties Manukau will acknowledge its support from the Auckland Rugby League by displaying the Auckland Rugby League logo on the shorts and jerseys of their representative player's uniforms. They will also display Auckland Rugby League flags and banners at tournaments and events.

"The Auckland Rugby League is proud and delighted that this support agreement has been struck between the Zones," says Auckland Rugby League Independent Director, Susanne Martin.

"The driving force behind this initiative was the desire of the Auckland Rugby League Chairman Dene Biddlecombe and Board to support the game of Rugby League in an area that manifests itself in tangible results for the players, particularly the representative teams. This is an example of the board's strategic pillars in action.

"We would like to thank both Akarana and Counties Manukau boards for their active collaboration in realising this positive step for the future of the game in wider Auckland."

ENDS

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