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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has formed a partnership with Oceania Rugby, bringing the two organisations together with the aim of delivering rugby programmes in the Pacific region.
The partnership will build on NZR’s Pacific Sporting Partnerships – Sport for Health program and looks to integrate it with World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby initiative. 

Oceania Rugby's general manager Bruce Cook said the partnership will look to increase participation and to create opportunities to strengthen the development of the sport in the region.

"This is an opportunity to harmonise the work rugby is doing in the Pacific and ensure we are getting the best outcomes for our member unions in terms of game development and social and health development benefits for the countries involved.

"Our priority is making sure there's clarity about where the programmes fit. This alignment may be different from country to country and will be something we'll develop in conjunction with our member unions."

NZR will use the partnership to deliver its Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme throughout Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. 

The programme uses the game of QuickRip, a non-contact form of rugby, to improve the health of young people.

NZR Head of Participation and Development Steve Lancaster said the partnership would build on the work the organisation is already doing in the Pacific: "This is an important step forward to help cement the Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme into the development plans in each of the countries we are operating in. To truly make inroads we need to work closely with all rugby stakeholders and it makes sense that we work closely with Oceania Rugby and their existing programmes.

"Sport is a powerful vehicle to connect with Pacific youth and the work being done by New Zealand Rugby, Oceania Rugby and World Rugby is critical to not only grow the level of participation in rugby, but also as a tool to convey important health and social messages," Lancaster said.

Oceania Rugby works closely with many organisations, including Rugby Australia through support from the Australian government to deliver, an innovative sport for development programme.

World Rugby’s ‘Get into Rugby’ programme has been developed to grow the game by encouraging more children, teenagers and young adults to start playing rugby in a safe environment.

Image: Oceania Rugby and New Zealand Rugby want to see more people play rugby in the Pacific. Photo: Facebook/Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament

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