Coach & Play Rugby - New Zealand

Product Details

Coach and play rugby union at a club in Auckland

You'll coach the junior teams at a RU club and also train with and possibly play for the senior or colts teams at the club.

New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world at Rugby Union.

Rugby is a religion in New Zealand and where ever you go in the country you will see rugby pitches and people kicking the ball around.

Your help is need to coach children and inspire them to take on this thrilling sport. You'll also assist in developing the sport at the grass roots level.

This is a Coach, Train and Play project. In other words, after working with a number of junior teams at the club, you'll also have the opportunity to train with the senior or colts sides or woman's side. Then, on the weekends, you'll have the opportunity to test your Rugby Union skills against the Kiwis (if you get selected).

As the main Rugby Union project won't occupy all your time, during the daytime you'll work on the School Sports Project. Here you can coach Rugby Union and/or a number of other sports for around 4-5 hours every day, leaving your evenings free to coach and train with the Rugby Union team.

Rugby Union Project:

As a Travellers Rugby Union coach, you'll work at an RU club that is conveniently located fairly close to your accommodation in Auckland.

Auckland is home to the Blues Rugby Team which plays in the Super 14. The stadium is located fairly close to your accommodation and if you time your placement to take place during the season, you should try and watch a game.

The club we work with have excellent facilities including an indoor Astroturf training facility and they have a large number of junior teams which you will coach. They also have a large number of senior teams including a womens’ team as well as colts teams (under 19s & under 21s) which you'll have the opportunity to coach, train with and possibly play for if you get selected.

The club we work with play to a high standard in Auckland.

You'll work with a number of junior teams at the clubs, including:

• U6s - U13s
• U19s and U21s (Colts)

If you wish to also play Rugby Union on this project, you will have the opportunity to with a number of senior teams. There is a good mixture of standards at the clubs so there is something for every one. Rugby in Auckland is also divided by weight so if you are under 85kg you can play in the restricted weight category which tends to be a very fast paced and exciting game to play. Here are the senior teams that you can train with and play for:

2 Men's open weight category teams
4 Men's under 85kg category teams
2 Colt men's teams (under 19s & under 21s)
2 Men's social sides
1 Woman's team

A large number of touch rugby teams in the off season

The club you will be working at has a great social scene and your club will welcome you with open arms and you will soon be embraced into the Kiwi Rugby culture.

The Rugby Season and Coaching Times:

The Rugby Union season runs from:

Seniors Late March - Mid august

Juniors: Mid April - Mid August

Touch Rugby season runs from:

Late Oct - Dec & late Jan - end of Feb

Coaching and training times are as follows:

Juniors: 5 – 6:00: Tuesday to Thursday

Seniors & Colts: 6:00 - 8: Monday to Thursday

Games take place on the weekends during the season. The juniors play there game in the morning where you will have the opportunity to coach a team putting everything you have taught them into practice on the field. In the afternoon as a senior player it will be your opportunity to play.

Accommodation and Location

Our accommodation is located in the city centre of Auckland. Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping district.

You'll be accommodated in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long-term stays. You may have your own room or you may share a room with other volunteers. There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax.

Entertainment at your accommodation includes cheap internet access and cable TV (Sky) as well as an outside balcony. You are literally a stroll from the Sky Tower, harbor and waterfront. Trains and buses are also only a few minutes away to take you to parts of Auckland and New Zealand or to the many other ‘things to do’!

The city centre boasts great shopping, restaurants and pubs or head over to the viaduct for more pubs, nightclubs and multicultural cuisine. You'll get to work via bus, which is close to your accommodation.

Maori settlement in Auckland was at least 800 years ago where by different tribes built fortifications on the various volcanoes in Auckland. When the British arrived in 1840 they claimed Auckland as the capital city of New Zealand until Wellington became the capital 25 years later.The city is modern and vibrant - a fun and friendly city with beautiful surrounding islands and harbour.

Some of its more famous attractions include the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island, the Harbour, the Hukani Gulf Islands and the many extinct volcanoes that are in Auckland which provide great views of the city.

Auckland has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is New Zealand lamb which can be ordered at many restaurants around the city and is well worth it.

For meals in local restaurants, a trip to Auckland's inner city centre is well worth the effort - it bustles with activity and offers a range of choices of restaurants.