Rugby for Life

Rugby for Life Rugby For Life is a Northland-based charitable trust who exists to lead social and economic change for Northland.

Through rugby and our rugby community, Rugby For Life is helping the Northland community grow and prosper for generations to come. Rugby For Life’s social programmes are aimed to engage with Northland's whānau through the network of the rugby community, in schools and at club level, across the region. Our programmes focus on driving improved social attitudes and behaviours, positive health and wellbeing through sport and community, and providing access to education and employment pathways.

Massive thanks to Northland Rugby Union for bringing the famous Log o' Wood to the The Duke of Marlborough Thursday 10 ...
07/09/2026

Massive thanks to Northland Rugby Union for bringing the famous Log o' Wood to the The Duke of Marlborough

Thursday 10 September,
4pm to 5pm

Come and grab a photo with the very Shield our Northland Taniwha claimed for the first time in 48 years.

Even though it's only the Shield making the trip and not the players, the Log o' Wood is more than ready for its close-up with you and the whānau. Everyone is welcome, so bring the tamariki and come share a proud Northland moment.

Rugby for Life is proud to support the wider Northland Rugby community in many different ways, from wellbeing and educat...
07/09/2026

Rugby for Life is proud to support the wider Northland Rugby community in many different ways, from wellbeing and education, to career pathways and real‑world opportunities.

Right now, one of the biggest ways we can help is by connecting our young athletes with meaningful work. We have a number of current Northland Rugby Union Kauri representatives and Future Taniwha players who are looking for 20–30 hours a week that can fit around their training and rugby commitments.

These players aren't full time professionals, but they rely on supportive employers so they can continue chasing their high‑performance goals. They’re fit, strong, reliable, hardworking, and genuinely impressive young people who just need someone willing to give them a chance.

If you think you might have a role in your business for a talented young Northland athlete, please reach out to Matt Dennis at: 📧 [email protected]. Matt will get in touch for a chat and help match you with the right young person.

We've really enjoyed reflecting over the last eight weeks on what a fantastic event the Rumble in Russell 2026 was, so m...
31/08/2026

We've really enjoyed reflecting over the last eight weeks on what a fantastic event the Rumble in Russell 2026 was, so much so that we decided to make a book about it! We realised that with it being such an incredible event, we wanted to make sure that we were able to thank everyone properly and produce something that people can look back on time and time again.

Check out the book here: https://loom.ly/JQhVvv0
Every sponsor, partner and volunteer that made the day possible is thanked inside.

We love how this event brought Northlanders together and can't wait to see everyone at the Rumble in 2028 - for now though, you'll just have to read our book!

24/08/2026

We've got something special coming tomorrow that we think is the perfect wrap up to the Rumble in Russell 2026!

Before that though, we need to make a few special mentions. Our Friday night activation at the Nauti Penguin was full of laughter and great energy, and the gear that made it all possible for our amazing Rugby For Life team to run the evening came courtesy of some fantastic Northland organisations.

A big thank you to the groups who backed the kaupapa by sharing their equipment with us:
- Whangarei Netball Centre for the netball hoops
- Golf Northland for the Snag Golf set
- Sport Northland for the games, including Jenga and Co****le
- ReSport Charitable Trust for the balls we used across the weekend and handed out to tamariki on both Friday and Saturday

and of course a huge thank you to Nauti Penguin for hosting!

What a night for Northland!!!Rugby For Life would like to say a huge congratulations to the Northland Taniwha, who have ...
21/08/2026

What a night for Northland!!!
Rugby For Life would like to say a huge congratulations to the Northland Taniwha, who have brought the Ranfurly Shield home for the first time in 48 years with a superb 36-12 win over Canterbury in Christchurch last night.

It hasn’t been in Northland Rugby Union hands since 1978, so this is a moment that generations of fans have been waiting for. As Northlanders, we could not be prouder of the players, the coaches and everyone who has played their part in this history making result.

How cool is it to see Michael Tovine from the Otamatea Hawks Rugby Club who played in the Rumble in Russell) with Rivez Reihana and the shield?

11/08/2026

With the support of Rugby For Life coordinator Keri Wynyard, Whangaruru RFC JMB created a highly engaging after school programme for local tamariki. Over six sessions, 39 tamariki across two age groups turned up ready to give new things a go, from building confidence in the saddle with horse riding, through to a giant waterslide finish. Van transport and kai at every session was an amazing way to make sure all kids were able to access this incredible opportunity.

Thanks so much to Sport Northland's Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund, to The Farm for hosting our tamariki, and to the parents and whānau who stepped up alongside the club!

Read the full story to find out all the things they got up to: https://loom.ly/XSfhXP4

For the third year running, Rugby For Life joined forces with the Blues Charitable Trust to deliver a leadership experie...
30/07/2026

For the third year running, Rugby For Life joined forces with the Blues Charitable Trust to deliver a leadership experience our young people will not forget in a hurry. Earlier this year, 33 rangatahi from right across Te Tai Tokerau made the journey to Blues HQ in Tāmaki Makaurau for three days built around one simple idea, that leadership reaches far beyond the playing field. This kaupapa is all about growing confident, capable young leaders who are ready to give back to their whānau, clubs and communities.

Read the full story of the weekend here: https://loom.ly/I0rK15w

To our rangatahi (and the clubs and communities who stood behind them - Aupouri RFS Club , Taiamai Ohaeawai Rugby Club, EnviroWorks Hikurangi Rugby Football Club, Whangaruru RFC JMB, Western Sharks Rugby, Southern Rugby Football Club , Otamatea Hawks Rugby Club, Ruawai Community Sports Club), we could not be prouder of the way you represented yourselves and your people.

You thought we were done with thanking people... not even close! There were so many wonderful people involved with the R...
30/07/2026

You thought we were done with thanking people... not even close! There were so many wonderful people involved with the Rumble in Russell and we want to make sure we acknowledge every singe one - plus this way we get to hold onto the thrill of the day a little longer!

To our Volunteers: the Registration team, Rugby For Life and Russell Sports Club volunteers, set-up and pack-down crew, car parking marshals, bus coordinators, water crew, grounds team, bar staff, kitchen staff, cleaning team, sound and AV team, stage crew - the most MASSIVE thank you.

A special thanks to every volunteer, every player, every supporter, every sponsor, every person who purchased a ticket, every person who donated, and every family who welcomed visitors to Russell. Everyone was so welcomed in Kororāreka, and you all showed exactly what a community coming together looks like.

A huge thank you to our friends at ReSport Charitable Trust for getting in behind the Rumble in Russell this year! ReSp...
11/07/2026

A huge thank you to our friends at ReSport Charitable Trust for getting in behind the Rumble in Russell this year! ReSport sponsored the t-shirts for both our rugby and netball teams, and their generosity did not stop there. Across both days they handed out balls, hats, t-shirts and apparel as giveaways for the tamariki, putting smiles on plenty of young faces along the way. Their pātaka was also on site, with the wonderful Sharon on hand throughout Saturday to kōrero with our community about the kaupapa and how everyone can play their part.

ReSport collect new and gently used sports gear so every Northlander has equitable access to sport, keeping good gear out of landfill and in the hands of the kids who need it. Want to get behind their mahi? Head to ReSport's website to find a pātaka location near you and donate any used sports gear you no longer need, so no kid is left on the sideline: https://loom.ly/kZAMp6c

Our ambassadors are champions for our kaupapa, using their voice and visibility to open doors for Rugby For Life.With na...
10/07/2026

Our ambassadors are champions for our kaupapa, using their voice and visibility to open doors for Rugby For Life.
With national media presence and community credibility, they help share the good our programmes are doing across Aotearoa, and their involvement in the Rumble In Russell was a huge contributor to its success, with almost 1200 people turning up for the match. Their belief in our mission brings awareness, attention, and opportunities that strengthen every part of the organisation.

We’re proud to have legends like our patron Sir Michael Jones, and ambassadors like Taine Randall, Ian Jones, Sir Graham Henry, Andrew Saville, Paul Scott (Potsy), Graham Lowe and Melodie Robinson standing with us, and hugely appreciate their support and presence at events when they can make it.

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Whangarei

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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