Climo begins new role to promote code
The man tasked with raising the profile of rugby league in the top of the south lives and breathes the game.
Duke Climo has been a player, coach, manager and board member. Now as Tasman Rugby League’s new club capability and development manager he gets to use his passion to inspire the next generation of players.
The born and bred Nelsonian says he’s excited to be given the opportunity to work in the sport he loves.
‘‘I’m excited about upskilling and teaching younger age grades and giving our sport depth and pathways for younger people to achieve,’’ he said.
‘‘A lot of kids wear league shirts and follow the NRL so we want to capitalise on that interest to grow the game here and take it to the next level.’’
Climo is well qualified for the job, having made the NelsonMarlborough representative team as a 17-year-old in his first year in the game, before captaining the side the following season.
In his latter playing career he helped form and coach the Wanderers Wolves, and then took on the Tasman women’s team.
Last year he was promoted to coaching the Tasman Titans rep team and elected onto the Tasman Rugby League board.
NZRL Southern Zone general manager Steve Martin said that Climo was someone who got things done.
‘‘He is well organised and a strong planner, and he is extremely motivated to make a difference and to lift rugby league’s profile,’’ Martin said.
With support from the NZRL and Sport Tasman, much of that work will be in primary and intermediate schools, where Climo will deliver a fundamental skills programme.
He aims to encourage more schools to enter annual competitions, in particular the Simon Mannering Cup for year 5 and 6 students which this year will be run as a festival to celebrate New Zealand co-hosting the World Cup in October and November.
He will also organise the Pro Brands intermediate tournament and work with coaches and managers to ensure Tasman fields the strongest possible teams in South Island age group tournaments.
A new part of his job is assisting clubs to becoming stronger and better organised using programmes created by NZRL.
Martin said that as well as increasing playing numbers in Tasman, it was about making sure the volunteers, including coaches, managers and medics, required to run the game are supported and upskilled.
In his first few weeks in the job, Climo – who is based at Sports House at Saxton Field – has already been busy helping senior clubs kick off the new season and is relishing the chance to get into schools to win over new young converts to league.
‘‘A lot of kids love the physicality but league is much more than that. It’s a game of skill that caters for all shapes and sizes. We want to teach them to do it safely.’’
For more information contact Duke Climo at duke@nzrl.co.nz or ring 021 328 548.