In The News

Rugby Love Starts Early in New Zealand

October 20th, 2011. CNN’s Alex Thomas visits a New Zealand rugby youth tournament that typifies how rugby unites the nation. We had a visiting Hong Kong based CNN Television crew visit us at Thames this week and produced the following story, “Rugby love starts early in New Zealand” Thanks Alex, Ravi & “Kiwi” Scott.

 

Still Rolling

Published 8/10/2011 Waikato Times by Tracey Cooper.

 

Keven Mealamu

It says something about his dedication, even at intermediate school, that to make the weight for the Waikato Rangers Roller Mills team, Mealamu shed nearly 10kg through hard training.

 

Waka Nathen

Waka Nathan was born in Auckland in 1940 and attended Mangere Central Primary School before Otahuhu College. He showed promise as a rugby player when he was still at primary school and was chosen for the Auckland East Roller Mills team.

 

Bryan Williams

One of the great influences in my rugby career was the Roller Mills rugby tournament during the August holidays in 1961 and 1962. Trials were held throughout the winter, beginning in the immediate locality and then spreading to the Auckland North area which comprises schools on the North Shore and as far west as Avondale. I was fortunate to make the Auckland North Team in 1961 and 1962 and one of the great thrills of my life was to play the curtain raiser to the 1961 All Blacks v. France game. The week long game of rugby at Richmond Road stood me in good stead and helped prepare me for my rugby career

 

Big hearts, big dreams forge in schoolboy rugby crucible Sept 2001

NZ Herald article, September 25th 2001. Suzanne McFadden takes a trip out to the lush fields of Pukekohe.

 

Rowan Brassey, Bowler

Rugby from 5-18 years. I represented Bay of Plenty when I very young and Counties at the Roller Mills.

 

Holah determined to seize the day

After playing in the Roller Mills stuff as a 13-year-old, he missed Waikato representative teams until leaving school and making the under-19s

 

Waikato Flankers fired up to keep holy log

For Holah and Gibbes, their rugby association goes back a decade to Roller Mills times.

 

There’s a new show on the road

The first time Wayne Pivac met Grant Fox was in a junior Roller Mills game some 25 years ago…

 

Rob Waddell – NZ Rower

Rob would probably attribute his motivation and work ethic, as much to his country upbringing in Piopio where his playground included the steep hills of the family sheep and cattle farm, his selection for the local Roller Mills Rugby team and later a homemade gym in his father’s woolshed.