• Increase of 72 teams or 8% growth across our game from 2019.
• 12 new school teams, 12% growth on 2019.
• PIC Junior Rugby up 69 teams, 10% growth on 2019.
• Goodyear Senior Club Rugby maintaining team numbers on 2019.
• Already in 2021 over 10,000 kids in Auckland have had rugby experiences delivered by our Clubs and Auckland Rugby staff and the season is just about to kick off.

In the same week that NZR selected more Auckland players than any other Provincial Union in the New Zealand Under 20s, Auckland Rugby have announced an increase of 91 teams across the community game, not just on COVID ravaged 2020, but on 72 teams in 2019.

One of Auckland Rugby’s key focus areas is ‘innovating and growing the community game’ and a combination of strategic marketing, tactical on-ground delivery, but most importantly a vibrant and dedicated group of clubs has driven this growth.

“During 2020 Auckland Rugby provided close to $200,000 of grants to ensure our Clubs could stay alive and healthy in what was a very challenging environment. Our Clubs have all made it through to the start line this year and have worked closely alongside our Club Rugby team to ensure a great result for rugby right across our community” says Auckland Rugby CEO Jarrod Bear.

“To be able to share this news in the same week as announcing seven players in the NZ U20s shows that Auckland Rugby is focused on providing meaningful opportunities at all levels. The fact that we are committed to innovating, allows meaningful competition and development opportunities for participants at every level.”

Club Rugby Manager Joe Blundell is proud of what his team and the Clubs have achieved by working together to build a strategy and then deliver meaningful activities around it.

“This year, there has been a suite of programs that we have worked closely with our clubs to deliver. There has been targeted marketing collateral and promotion, an on-ground Club based delivery campaign where resource was made available to those that needed it, and there has been a raft of new grades implemented in the girls only, non-contact, and weight grade areas that enables more access for more people across our community’ says Blundell.

Jarrod Bear acknowledges the work of the Auckland Rugby community and staff but is mindful not to take a ‘job done’ approach.

“Coming out of lockdown last year, our Board provided clear directive that we needed to be delivering 2019 participation numbers. This is the important base of our game and we need to innovate to ensure we have more people involved in our game. Its feels great to say the team has achieved that and more.

We are all keenly aware innovation and growing our community game is never complete, but to be where we are at this stage of the season is a real show of strength for Auckland Rugby, club staff and valuable volunteers that help facilitate 10,000 games of rugby each year for our 22,000 participants” added Bear.

Further key milestones

• 5 new schoolgirl teams with Marist College entering first their first ever 15s team.
• PIC Junior Rugby Girls have 17 new teams, 52% growth on 2019.
• Selwyn College have their first ever 1^st grade team.
• Marist Eastern Junior Rugby Club chose not to deliver any rugby in 2020 season due to COVID-19, now have 18 more teams in PIC Junior Rugby than in 2019.  
• Auckland Rugby is also focused on building a stronger rugby whanau by enabling and empowering clubs to become thriving Community hubs. Clubs have embraced this direction and lead the way themselves by, connecting with their local community, driving programs, connecting with local businesses and educational institutes in their region. Papatoetoe is a fantastic example of this, up 56% in playing numbers since 2017 by really drawing on their community connections.
• None of this could happen without the commitment and support of the over 2000 volunteers across our community that make it all possible.