Rugby stars inspire school

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Papamoa Primary School can be excused for switching allegiances for the day after asking the Canadian Women's Rugby team the hard questions and matching them on the rugby field.

In town for the Quadrangular tournament with Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, the national side paid a visit to the school ahead of their first game against Australia at the Tauranga Domain tomorrow.

Papamoa Primary School students stretch their legs with the Canadian Women's Rugby Team. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Papamoa Primary School teacher Hamish Avery says the visit gives students a chance to interact with the international players showing how there are opportunities in women's rugby.

Hamish approached the national side on the potential visit after discovering they were staying nearby at the Top 10 Holiday Park.

'I got hold of them and invited them to mix and mingle with the kids and get acquainted with the locals,” says Hamish.

'It's wicked and a handful of them are professional players and travel the sevens circuit. And the rest play professionally in the UK and a number of them are also amateurs.”

After a brief powhiri the Canadian side tackled some mini rugby matches with the students while others sat down to provide a Q and A session.

The visit provides added inspiration for the school's girl's rugby team, preparing to face Maketu Primary School in the curtain raiser to Friday's match. The match sees the side play 10 minutes aside.

'It's going to be really cool because they are playing on the main field and hopefully there is a good crowd there.”

Tomorrow's match marks the Canadian's first-ever test match against Australia before back-to-back games against the defending Rugby Wold Cup champion Black Ferns.

'I think it's important for us to benchmark ourselves against the best teams in the world and we're expecting to have three physical, hard games against Australia and New Zealand on tour,” says Canada captain Kelly Russell.

'However, having never played Australia and lost all 11 games against New Zealand on record, we know that all three games are going to be a battle.”

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