New Zealand's best touch teams have gathered at Takanini in Auckland for the National Touch Tournament.
It's been four years since the Bay of Plenty have entered an Open Women’s team. While it was a long road back to the national scene, the goal of returning came to fruition after a request from past players to their senior leader.
Te Tai Tokerau open mixed team bought through a number of the National U15 and U17 Champion players to the tournament, the mixed section is the most competitive section with teams playing nine games over two days.
Every four years the tournament goes to the South Island as part of the cycle for touch venues. The organisers are looking closely at Te Matatini to see how it caters to events and still to confirm where they will go, but they will not be here in Auckland next year.