The Auckland Rugby League pre-season is kicking off with the inaugural Sportsafe Coastal Classic ARL Nines tournament on Whitianga today.

Six Auckland Premiership teams will tussle for bragging rights and the Nines trophy when they go head-to-head down at Lyon Park, with matches taking place today and on Saturday.

Whitianga's Lyons Park will be home to the inaugural Sportsafe Coastal Classic ARL Nines Tournament which kicked off today. Photo: ARL/Facebook

The six teams competing in the tournament are the Papakura Sea Eagles, Otara Scorpions, Northcote Tigers, Howick Hornets, Manurewa Marlines and New Lynn Stags.

The Coastal Classic offers Auckland clubs a meaningful pre-season competition in an environment that allows players and team staff to involve families as well.

ARL sponsorship manager Troy Hardy is expecting the tournament to prove hugely popular, following on from the success of the NRL Auckland Nines.

'The Sportsafe Coastal Classic will provide local clubs with a series of games to help fine-tune fitness and skills ahead of the Appliance Shed Fox Memorial and SAS Sharman Cup seasons,” says Troy.

'It is also the perfect team building weekend, held at a town which will get right behind the tournament.

He adds: 'The nines concept has proved extremely popular already with both fans and players alike, it will be quality rugby league and is an exciting opportunity for grassroots clubs.”

The first game of pool play has just wrapped up, with the Papakura Sea Eagles taking the win over the Otara Scorpions 20-10.

So if you're after some of that crash and smash magic that only rugby league can offer, make sure you get down to Lyon Park today and Saturday.

To view the full draw for today's Sportsafe Coastal Classic ARL Nines Tournament matches click here.