Inspiring youth to love playing rugby

• Published date: 05 April 2022

He was ‘‘already pretty much fully booked up’’ to visit schools throughout Eastern Southland next term, he said

‘‘I quite enjoy working with the kids.

‘‘I think it’s great for their development.

‘‘[I’m] really looking forward to it.’’

He had been given some tips from 2021 ambassador Josh Cameron, he said.

He was ‘‘hoping to gauge some interest and hopefully get a few future players out of it’’.

The aim was to ‘‘get kids more involved and playing the sport and showing them that it’s an enjoyable game to play.’’

Mr Littlejohn had been playing rugby since he was 4 and had taken part in a number of competitions.

He wanted others to have the same opportunities he had, he said.

He was grateful to the Mataura Licensing Trust, which sponsored the ambassador role, to Millenium Motors, which supplied the car, and to Sign Advertising, which put the signage on the car.

MLT operations manager Bob Vercoe said the initiative was a great example of locals supporting locals.

‘‘It’s been around since 1995. The ambassador will work closely with the school-age groups and it’s been a marvellous success.’’

The ambassador role was important...