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Sport | Kura Tuatahi - Primary School

Top primary schools compete for national Rippa Rugby title

Provincial pride was on the line today with the top 20 primary schools competing for the national title of the fourth annual Rippa Rugby Tournament, and this year there was a twist.

New Zealand's top 20 Rippa Rugby schools are battling it out for top honours in Wellington after being assigned to a country attending the World Cup.

Brent Anderson says, “They are getting stuck in and it means a lot.  We have had a few who suffered their first loss and there has been the odd tear but pretty quickly the smiles come back again and it's been great.”

Each side drew a name from a hat. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa i te reo ki Tūwharetoa, who won the King Country regionals, are representing Wales.

Akuira Walker says, “All the most talented Rippa Rugby players are here.”

Te Ākau ki Papamoa Primary were lucky enough to pick out the All Blacks.

Tane Bennett says, “We've just finished our semi-final game against Whakatū.  Even though we lost, we are still proud.”

Even though New Zealand didn't win the Wellington Rippa Rugby World Cup, let's hope they can win the big one in England.