Frontline One New Zealand Warriors players and Warriors Community Foundation staff will run a packed programme of school visits, clinics and activations in Christchurch ahead of the club’s Preseason Challenge encounter with the Wests Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium on February 18.
Included on the agenda are visits to five schools, two coaching clinics – one focused on women – question and answer sessions with senior NRL players and another with head coach Andrew Webster plus an opportunity for the public to see the One New Zealand Warriors train.
The group of players involved is set to include Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Kurt Capewell.
“We’ll be engaging with close to 2000 kids in schools in a visit which forms part of the NRL’s Road to Regions wellbeing programme,” said Warriors Community Foundation CEO Lincoln Jefferson.
“It’s exciting for us being able to connect with the people of Christchurch again following on from our visit to the area this time last year.”
The programme’s aim is to lead and inspire school students and aspiring NRL stars to be the best they can be, by providing pathways and opportunities to live positive, respectful and healthy lives.
The visit kicks off with two events on Thursday evening conducted in association with the Sky Sport Roadshow.
The foundation‘s community programmes advisor Charlotte Scanlan will run a coaching clinic with a specific women’s focus while foundation ambassador Ruben Wiki will lead a question and answer session with the One New Zealand Warriors players in Christchurch specifically for the community visit.
On Friday two groups of staff and players will be in operation.
One will present the NRL’s Road to Regions wellbeing programme at Haeata Community Campus, Shirley Primary and St Anne’s Catholic School.
The second group will take Tupu Māia, the WCF’s girls-only programme, to Shirley Intermediate School in the morning before making a presentation to St Thomas of Canterbury College in the afternoon.
On Friday evening One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster will be at the Halswell Hornets Rugby League Club for a question and answer session.
