A project that will see every Bay of Plenty rugby player receiving a rugby ball is set to get underway.

The 'Ball for All” project will see up to 12,000 specially designed rugby balls going to junior and school players, who register to play for a club or school by July 17.

All senior club players must register by July 4 to be eligible.

Players already registered for the 2020, season will be eligible to receive a ball and do not need to register again.

Bay Rugby community manager Pat Rae says local trust and businesses have partnered with the Union for the 'Ball for All” project.

Rae says the project's aim is to encourage as many people as possible to register and play rugby for their school or club.

'Bay Rugby knows the importance of investing in our future and what better way to do that, than by using the net profits from last year's Steamers' Mitre 10 Cup Championship win to benefit players directly.”

Rae says the response from local trusts and businesses to get behind the project had been fantastic and without their support would not have been possible.

Rae says influencing youngsters into a sport is a positive way forward.

'We understand how rugby and other organised sports transform lives and positively contribute to the communities that we live in. We know COVID-19 had a big impact on our communities. So, doing this project is a positive step.”

Distribution of Balls

Junior Club and Secondary School registered players will be able to collect their ball from their club delegates or their schools after July 21, respectively.

Senior Club registered players will be able to collect their ball from their club delegates after July 7.
Bay Rugby and Toi Ohomai will be visiting various schools throughout the region to hand out some of the balls.

Bay Steamers and Volcanix players will be doing surprise visits to various junior and senior club training to hand out some of the balls as well.

Junior Club and Secondary School players must be registered by 17 July to be eligible to receive their ball.

Senior Club players must be registered by 4 July to be eligible to receive their ball.

Players already registered for the 2020, season will be eligible to receive a ball and do not need to register again.

Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Rippa Rugby and Quick Rip players that plan to register for Term 4 of 2020, will also be eligible for a rugby ball, this will be part of a separate distribution plan specifically for Term 4 registrations.

The sponsors are;

Western Bay: 2Wel and 2NZ, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and Carrus Properties
Central Bay: Rotorua Central Mall Rotorua Lakes Council and Rotorua Forest Haulage.
Eastern Bay: Putauaki Trust, Aquaheat and HEG Limited.