Two Manawatu voices at NZR table
With Farah Palmer’s landmark appointment to the New Zealand Rugby board, Manawatu has two seats at the table for the first time since 1997.
Steve Morris, who like Palmer, works at Massey University, was elected to the board in April.
That makes for a strong Manawatu influence within New Zealand Rugby.
The last time Manawatu had that level of representation was when Mike Cross and Mike Banks served side by side between 1995 and 1997.
Strong schools flavour
There was a strong Manawatu presence at the inaugural world schools sevens tournament in Auckland on Saturday.
Feilding High School’s Georgia Ponsonby and former pupil Lauren Balsillie were both part of the champion New Zealand Condor girls’ team. Balsillie was the only member of the squad not still at school, having left earlier this year.
Fellow Feilding pupil Mosese Dawai and Vili Koroi were both part of the New Zealand Condor boys’ team who won the plate final over the New Zealand Fijians, coached by Manawatu sevens co-coach Koli Sewabu.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s Matene Ruawai scored one of the tries of the tournament, sprinting 75m to touch down for the New Zealand Maori team.
Holographic rugby
Manawatu rugby fans will be among the first in the country to be able to experience a holographic rugby simulator.
Palmerston North men Cain and Gabe Redding have been developing their rugby simulator for 10 years and have successfully transformed their system to work with a holographic lens. The pair will put the lens on display at the New Zealand Rugby Museum on December 29 and 30 from 10am to 2pm.
Another win for Drummond
Rising Manawatu track cycling star Michaela Drummond has continued her good start to riding at the elite level.
Drummond won the elite scratch race and was second in the madison at the Oceania championships at Melbourne and now she has won the Australia madison championships. She paired up with Racquel Sheath to win the two-person event in Melbourne on Saturday.