Osaka High School Rugby training camp
Welcome reception at the Petone Rugby Club
Initiated with Japan New Zealand Centre (formally Kansai New Zealand Centre) in Osaka, Japan, Hutt City i-SITE Visitor Centre, Lower Hutt and Christian Cullen Management Group, a rugby training program is created to teach players and coaches the fundamentals of the game. The cultural and sport exchange has been running since 2008 and has had another year of success. A group of high school rugby players from the Osaka Prefecture, accompanied by teachers and coaches in a week-long visit to Lower Hutt, arrived on the 22 July and were very pleased with the exchange. The Japanese high school students are hosted with local families which gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in Kiwi culture. The rugby camp hosted by the Petone Rugby Club and training run by the Christian Cullen Management Group consists of fitness, skill development and testing, with a match against a local school.
Hutt City Council
Photo: Masanori Udagawa and Hutt City Council
This year the squad of 23 went up against Hutt International Boys School (HIBS) and after a fairly even game our visitors from Japan came away with a 24-17 win. Exchanges between Japan and New Zealand continue to develop and strengthen and future rugby camps look to increase. These programs are supported by Hutt City Council in particular the team of local experts in the i-SITE Visitor Centre. Photo: Left of the seated group: Ms Kazue Fuijimoto – Japan Information Cultural Centre, Embassy of Japan, Wellington; Mr Maeda – Japan Rugby Football Union; Linda Goss-Wallace – Lower Hutt Mayoress. Right of the seated group: Mrs Hiromi Morris – President of SCNZ; David Pollock – Rugby and Beyond/Petone Rugby Club and Christian Cullen – Christian Cullen Management Group.