Taranaki Rugby are grateful to have received $240,000 in grant funding from New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) for amateur rugby in 2025.

Established in 1998, NZCT is one of New Zealand's largest gaming trusts. NZCT are extremely proud of the contribution they make to local communities, particularly in the area of amateur sport and active participation.

NZCT’s annual funding goes an incredibly long way, enabling the TRFU to deliver their vision of creating memorable experiences through rugby all over Taranaki. It also allows Taranaki Rugby to employ staff to work across various areas of the community game.

Some of the mahi the community team deliver includes:

• Running coaching courses and upskilling junior coaches to deliver safe and enjoyable rugby experiences for tamariki (children) and rangatahi (teenagers)
• Fun rippa rugby tournament days for primary/high school tamariki
• Hundreds of school visits encouraging ball skill development, physical activity, evasion, invasion, communication and teamwork for tamariki
• Administration of the community game for 5,461 participants including draws and results and liaison with Junior Convenors, Rugby Administrators in Schools and Club Chairs
• Supporting clubs to improve their sustainability through enhanced governance and operations

“One of the strengths of Taranaki Rugby is the outstanding people within our organisation that deliver rugby to our community. Annual support from NZCT enables us to administer the game professionally and have personnel on the grass to grow the game, from school visits and rippa rugby tournaments to Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Ferdie Rugby and CMK club rugby,” says TRFU CEO Jimmy Fastier.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

💪 Playing numbers rose to 5,461 in 2024 (small increase against 2023 after 13% growth in 2023)

💪 Teenage rugby playing numbers up 13%

💪 Female teenage playing numbers up 29%, male teenage numbers up 9%

💪 Registered coaches up 61% from 198 in 2013 to 318 in 2024

Click HERE for a list of NZCT Taranaki operators.

Article added: Wednesday 05 February 2025