Auckland Rugby is proud to announce a significant increase in community rugby participation in 2024, with registrations surpassing 22,700 players, coaches, and referees. This marks a 14% increase from 2023.

Female participation achieved an impressive 35% growth, surpassing 5,000 participants for the first time. Male participation also rose by 9%, with over 17,700 individuals actively engaged in the sport, marking the highest level of involvement since 2017.

Coaching also experiences a modest rise of 3% from 2023, and refereeing experiences a 7% rise. This represents over 1,300 volunteers giving back to the game.

Club Rugby on the Rise

Club rugby saw a 4% increase in total players and coaches, surpassing 10,000 participants for the first time since 2019. Junior club players, in particular, grew by 5% to over 6,200. Senior players also grew, with numbers rising by 4% to over 3,400.

Auckland Rugby’s strategic focus on building “Thriving Community Hubs” continues to drive this growth. Tailored support for clubs and initiatives such as the Club Health and Capability Programme, our game development framework, and the Junior Recruitment Project have been instrumental in supporting Clubs to drive this positive growth.

Challenges remain, particularly with a slight decline in junior boys' registrations. In collaboration with our clubs, Auckland Rugby is dedicated to addressing this through targeted recruitment campaigns in 2025. This will also be a key priority in the new Junior Rugby Development Framework, which is currently being designed in partnership with clubs to ensure all our junior offerings are relevant and fit for purpose and provide a stage- and age-appropriate progression for our junior participants.

Auckland Rugby Club Rugby Manager, Joe Blundell said “We are proud of the collective effort of our staff and clubs. These positive results only show how collaboration and tailored support are vital in delivering positive experiences, which we know is the driving force of growth in community sports. Our club's hard mahi and dedication form the foundation of our club system.”

School Rugby Continues Upwards

Secondary school rugby in Auckland continues to grow, with registrations up by 13% in 2024, following an 8% increase in 2023. Participation now exceeds 5,700, with over 5,400 students actively playing.

This success stems from targeted initiatives designed to enhance the student rugby experience, including capability-building workshops for coaches, stronger educational partnerships, new pathways for female players, and expanded age-grade representative opportunities.

Auckland Rugby’s Rugby Experiences and Schools Manager, Jarrod Syman, said, "Our focus on creating clear pathways through secondary school to club rugby has been crucial in keeping young players engaged as they progress through their rugby journey, ensuring a smooth transition and continued participation.”

Another positive highlight has been the level of engagement through our Primary and Intermeidaschool offerings, which has driven over 5,200 unique participants, representing 33 % growth in 2023.

This growth has been driven by exciting school events, engaging formats and inclusive school-based based programmes. These targeted initiatives have improved accessibility for young players, regardless of experience or circumstance to be involved in our game.

Looking Ahead to 2025 Auckland Rugby remains committed to innovating and growing the community game across all levels, from junior players to experienced coaches. The organisation's focus on creating positive experiences and multiple opportunities for engagement aims to foster a lifelong love of rugby.

With new Premier competitions, a merger board of initiatives, tailored support and plans already in place for more improvements in 2025, Auckland Rugby is well-positioned for continued growth and success.

For any interviews or media requests please get in touch with Auckland Rugby media manager Aaron Ryan at aaron.ryan@aucklandrugby.co.nz / +64210373232

Article added: Tuesday 22 October 2024