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

​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.

Refereeing 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.

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.

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.

New Zealand Sports Academy wants to thank LiteClub for making us more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
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GAP YEAR IN 2017?

Consider playing rugby in New Zealand.

NZSA provides rugby training and netball programmes for domestic and international players.
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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.
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AUTHOR: Vicky Ward
CATEGORY: NZSA News
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My 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.
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AUTHOR: Vicky Ward
CATEGORY: NZSA News

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