What a ripper – St Mary’s in finals tourney

‘‘St Mary’s Catholic School deserve their spot in the Rippa Rugby Championship after beating every other team in the area.’’

Putaruru’s St Mary’s Catholic School will represent Waikato at the Rippa Rugby Championship next week in Wellington.

Twenty schools from the National Provincial Championship and Heartland Championship provinces will attend the two-day tournament.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of community and provincial union rugby Brent Anderson said the Rippa Rugby Championship was exciting for children.

St Mary’s were deserving contestants, he said.

More than 600 schools throughout the country fight to qualify for the national tournament, with each team comprising 10 year 6 players, five boys and five girls.

‘‘St Mary’s Catholic School deserve their spot in the Rippa Rugby Championship after beating every other team in the area,’’ Anderson said.

‘‘They will be representing their school as the provincial union tournament winner with an enormous amount of pride.

‘‘We hope their community will get behind them as they compete for the national title.’’

Two teams will return to the national championship for the fourth year in a row, with Counties Manukau’s Roscommon School and Otago’s Arrowtown School regional champions yet again.

Last year Auckland’s Holy Cross School won the national title.

The tournament kicks off Monday morning at Wakefield Park, Island Bay, with finals on Tuesday.