Over 560 excited youngsters have just one more sleep before they take part in the Western Bay of Plenty round of the Eastpack Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby World Cup (RRWC).

Twenty-six schools from throughout the Western Bay are heading for Blake Park on Wednesday, with each participating school fielding a team apiece in the Year 3-4 and Year 5-6 divisions, with individual teams having a minimum of two girls in their ranks.

Lance MacDonald with St Thomas More school students Kiahi Horan (New Zealand – black t-shirt), Joel Willis (South Africa – green t-shirt), Libby Nolan (Australia – yellow t-shirt) and Terry Dawson (England – white t-shirt).

Former New Zealand Sevens player and current Steamer Lance MacDonald is a great supporter of Rippa Rugby because of the important rugby skills that the introductory game teaches participants.

'There are two fundamental skills of rugby that Rippa Rugby develops, which are evasion and passing,” says Lance.

'New Zealand Sevens teams always work on the two fundamental skills of passing the ball and evading opposition players.

'Fifteen aside rugby with the Steamers and Chiefs development sides also requires me to put in plenty of work on the two basic skills.

'I am excited about being on the sideline of the Eastpack Rippa Rugby World Cup at Blake Park on Wednesday and look forward to watching the talented youngsters on show.”

A real sense of occasion is being brought to the RRWC tournament with each school representing a rugby playing country.

To add to the excitement, teams wear a shirt with the Bay Rugby logo on the front and the country name on the back.

While each of the three Bay of Plenty RRWC tournaments will find a regional champion in the two grades, the semi-finalists from the Western BOP, Eastern BOP and Rotorua, will all be rewarded with berths at the Bay of Plenty RRWC Finals to be held at Paengaroa on June 8.

Last year Paengaroa School took out the inaugural Bay of Plenty Year 5-6 RRWC championship, with Mount Maunganui School St Thomas More winning the Year 3-4 division.

An extra incentive is provided at the Bay of Plenty RRWC Year 5/-6 finals with the winner securing a place in the NZRU Rippa World Cup, to be played at North Harbour Stadium during August.

BOPRU Eastpack Rippa Rugby World Cup

18 May - Western BOP @ Blake Park, Mount Maunganui (32 Schools)

25 May – Eastern BOP @ Rex Morepeth Park, Whakatane (24 Schools)

1 June – Rotorua @ Boord Park, Rotorua (24 Schools)

8 June – Eastpack Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby World Cup Finals @ Paengaroa

7-9 August - New Zealand Rugby Union Rippa World Cup @ North Harbour Stadium