Junior rugby started their season Saturday morning in some fun conditions after heavy rain Friday night.

Pete Blackwell says the conditions are great.
'The boys have been slipping and sliding all over the place and will go home with some mud on their knees – it's brilliant. They love it.”

Laden Monks from Te Puna races past Vili Potter from Mount Green cheered on by parents in the first game of the season for Rippa Rugby.

The heavy rain over night on Friday was worrying the Mount Junior Rugby committee member, who thought they might have to postpone.

'But we haven't had a drop of rain this morning, the boys have been out playing since about 8.30 this morning.”

Pete says there are about 200 junior rugby players in the mount – and in excess of 1000 in the entire Western Bay of Plenty – who will all converge at Blake Park Saturday mornings for the rest of the season.
'It's round one of junior rugby in the world cup year 2011.

'It's brilliant.”

The junior rugby starts with Rippa Rugby for five and six year olds, then move into tackle rugby when they are seven.

They play 10-aside until they start playing 15s in the under-11 age group.

Tyreese Tipene from Papamoa Orange eyes a gap against Greerton Gold to score a try.

Matt Hill from Greerton Gold charges away from Papamoa Orange defence.

Ethan Carrington from Papamoa Orange dodges rips from Greerton Gold.

Jackson Bilby from Te Puna has a great season first game playing Rippa Rugby.

Rhys Tutaki from Mount Green carrys the ball on his run down the field.

Junior rugby kicked off to a great start with Rippa Rugby for five and six year olds.