Bay of Plenty's top junior rugby talent continues to grow in popularity with more than 600 children taking part in the Western Bay of Plenty's version of the EastPack Rippa Rugby World Cup.

Held across 16 fields at Blake Park yesterday, the various primary schools took part in the action packed day with Te Akau Ki Papamoa Primary School winners of the Year 5 and 6 division going on to compete in the Baywide championship on June 11.

Arataki Primary School pupil Legacy Tuwairua at the competition today.


Some of the Te Akau ki Papamoa pupils who won the Year 5 and 6 grade.

Te Akau Ki beat St Mary's Primary School 8-4 in the final, while Papamoa Primary School made it a double for Papamoa, edging out Arataki Primary School in the Year 3 and 4 final.

The annual event sees schools from throughout the Bay – eastern, western and central – compete in their respective region, before the winners come together to find the Bay of Plenty representative for the national tournament in Wellington.

The tournaments are a chance for many girls to take their first steps in playing rugby.

Each team must have at least three girls for the regional tournaments and for the Baywide and NZR National Tournament each team must have five girls and five boys.

In 2013, Opotiki Primary School represented the Bay winning through to the semi-final stage before being narrowly beaten by the eventual winners Auckland.

Western Bay of Plenty junior rugby officer Mark Roberts says all participants showed 'awesome attitude”, as well as plenty of talent throughout the day.

The Western Bay of Plenty tournament was extra special with the New Zealand U-20 squad making their way around the fields of play before their match with the Chiefs development side.

'Everyone was positive and I think that's what made it go so well,” says Mark.

'There are some pretty talented kids around here.”

Bay of Plenty Rugby central regional administrator Johan Bardoul is blown away by the huge increase in participants for this year's event.

More than 1500 children, across the two grades are involved in the four Rippa Rugby World Cup tournaments.

'The teams have showed great enthusiasm and the kids are really looking forward to the event,” says Johan.

'The World Cups promise to be really enjoyable, heaps of fun and beneficial for the rugby community.”