<![CDATA[New Zealand Sports Academy - News]]>Fri, 20 Oct 2017 17:36:10 +1300EditMySite<![CDATA[Testimonial from Elvis Abadi]]>Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:15:29 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/testimonial-from-elvis-abadiI spent a month at the Academy and is has improved my knowledge about Rugby to a level that I don't see any chance it could be done anywhere else. I'm from Brazil but anyone who lives in South America knows the huge difference between us and New Zealand, in terms of Rugby.

But to see and live it for yourself is much, much better. All the Maori culture around makes it very special. Jim and Darrel taught me enough to spend a long time to develop in my club! They truly have a lot to teach and make you a skillful and fit player or a wise coach, but only if you are ready for this: Discipline is everything if you want to succeed, that's the biggest lesson.

​I also met Ben, the coach of the club I played there, he is also a very good coach and a great person, taught me a lot too! In addition to that, Rotorua is an awesome city, very beautiful and has lots of things to do. And one of the best parts of the experience was my homestays! Debby and Damian were the best homestays ever! Well, I came back home bringing with me some new and very effective ways to play Rugby, in time I'm going to see the results of my journey!
Picture
]]><![CDATA[A Huge Congratulations to Monica Falkner and Moni Tongauiha]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 02:37:14 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/a-huge-congratulations-to-monica-falkner-and-moni-tongauihaPicture


​Congratulations to Monica, who was a student with us in 2014, on being selected for the New Zealand Silver Ferns squad. Definitely well deserved.
Picture



​Congratulations to Moni Tongauiha, who came to us in 2015 from the Santa Barbara Rugby Academy. Moni has made the USA Islander Team who play the Saracens in Bermuda.
]]><![CDATA[Our Last Few Months]]>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 01:07:39 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/our-last-few-monthsRefereeing the Central Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby Tournament and Eastern Bay of Plenty Rippa Rugby Tournament.

For both tournaments our students helped to set up and referee the matches for the players. The majority of our students play rugby themselves, so they had to refresh themselves on the rules and they had to make sure it was a fair an enjoyable game for not only the players but the parents and supporters as well.
Picture
Refereeing the Central Bay of Plenty matches pushed most of our students out of their comfort zone. During the initial games, it was clear that they were nervous, but as the day progressed they started to get more comfortable and more confident.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty competition in Kawerau was a complete success, the referees (our students) were much more comfortable and confident within themselves, which in turn made it really enjoyable for both players and their whanau.
Picture
Everyone had an Awesome day!!!

School holidays
During the school holidays, some of the students took the children from Kid's Central for a fun packed day of activities and a game of Rippa Rugby.
Fun was had by everyone on the sled pulling, where they had turns at pulling a sledge with either a 15kg or 20kg plate attached. This activity showed them that by using your arms you gain more drive and momentum and you can get much further.

They were split onto two teams for an obstacle course competition and a game of Rippa Rugby which they thoroughly enjoyed as they didn't want to stop.

Plyometric Session - explosive movements that allow you to move quickly.
Walking Tracks behind Whakarewarewa Club Rooms, Government Gardens so our International Players to view some of the natural geothermal wonders of Rotorua.
]]><![CDATA[Eco-friendly Sports Academy]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2016 23:09:57 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/eco-friendly-sports-academyNew Zealand Sports Academy wants to thank LiteClub for making us more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
​
Follow us on our Facebook page for daily news about NZSA.
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Gap Year]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2016 23:08:27 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/gap-yearGAP YEAR IN 2017?

Consider playing rugby in New Zealand.

NZSA provides rugby training and netball programmes for domestic and international players.
​
For more information: info@nzsportsacademy.co.nz
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Testimonial – Billy Hicks]]>Thu, 06 Oct 2016 02:53:10 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/testimonial-billy-hicks
In 2006 I enrolled into NZ Sports Academy to better my rugby skills. I didn’t know what to expect, all I knew was I wanted to succeed in rugby.

At the Academy we lived and breathed rugby… literally! Starting 7am on the dot (there were punishments if you were one minute late) with Shaun Tata, we hit the gym with strength and core training, all rugby-related, then by 9.15am we’d be all showered for a 15 min breakfast then straight into the classroom to learn all rugby fundamentals. After lunch we then hit the field for the rest of the afternoon working on fitness, drills, skill work, games and breaking down every little drill, such as passing a ball and tackling.
This was all a huge shock to me. Darrel and Shaun (our coaching staff at the time) broke us into pieces, mentally and physically, but taught us to love the toughness. I cannot explain how much I enjoyed having them as coaches, pushing us to the absolute limit to get the best out of everyone. It truly amazes me how much knowledge of the game they have, which they broke down into steps to give us a better understanding.

After graduating from the Academy in 2007, I moved to Australia to succeed further in my rugby career, with the Surfers Paradise Gold Coast Dolphins, but really struggled to do so due to injury after injury. I got back into the gym for rehab and to focus on my weak points. Since day one at the Academy I always loved being the gym, smashing PBs, learning the correct form and techniques in lifting, and seeing great results in your body. Darrel and Shaun taught us how to look after our bodies from injuries and, because of that, I had a speedy recovery.

By the end of my recovery, I decided to change codes and challenge myself with the discipline and dedication of Bodybuilding and Powerlifting.

  • 2013 – North QLD WFF Fitness model – 1st place
  • 2013 – Southern Hemisphere WFF – 5th place
  • 2014 – QLD INBA Fitness model
  • 2015 – Australasia WBFF Muscle model – Top 20
  • 2015 – Central QLD Vector Powerlifting champion (Total 620kg)

With the mental toughness and dedication I inherited from the NZSA, I took everything I’ve learnt into my preparations and succeeded numerous times. I am a scaffold supervisor, currently preparing for the Australasia WBFF Championship and hoping succeed to WBFF Worlds next year in Las Vegas. I strongly recommend anyone to join the NZ Sports Academy as it has had a huge impact on my life.
​
AUTHOR: Vicky Ward
CATEGORY: NZSA News
​
]]><![CDATA[Testimonial - Curtis van der Heyden]]>Wed, 09 Mar 2016 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/testimonial-curtis-van-der-heydenMy experience as a member of the New Zealand Sports Academy began in 2007, and an experience of a lifetime it was at that. I was an unestablished, inexperienced rugby player hoping to grow in knowledge and leave a footprint on the rugby world.

Upon joining I was informed that it was a full time course that required only a few key attributes of me… “hard work, commitment, honesty, and a whole lot of sweat.” It now dawns on me that it was a small price to pay for what I got out of it

The trainers we had at the time were Darrel Shelford and Shaun Tata, who I can not express to how much I enjoyed having them there to kick me in the backside and equally the amount of work they put in to getting the best out of us. The thing that amazes me the most about the coaching staff is just how vast their range of knowledge is. There doesn’t seem to be a thing they do not know about rugby and that quickly rubs off on the students.

Once I completed the programme I joined the Bay of Plenty Rugby Academy which lead to playing for representative sides such as;
  • Bay of Plenty Under 20s
  • Bay of Plenty Development
  • Bay of Plenty Steamers
  • Bay of Plenty 7s

​I was then contracted to a club side in Dallas Texas before being contracted to a club side in Sydney Australia. All of which I accredit to the New Zealand Sports Academy.

I am currently a firefighter in Rotorua and spend a lot of my summer times travelling with various invitational sevens teams and competing in tournaments worldwide.
​
AUTHOR: Vicky Ward
CATEGORY: NZSA News]]><![CDATA[We are now on Twitter!]]>Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.nzsportsacademy.co.nz/news/we-are-now-on-twitterWe are now on Twitter!
@NZSAMaoriRugby, the official Twitter account of NZSA.
Follow us on Twitter
]]>