Touch NZ National Player and Coaching Development Manager Peter Waters admits it's been a long time since he's worked at a community level.

This week Peter has worked with students from schools right across the Coromandel and Hauraki Plains as part of a Touch NZ development programme to grow the sport in rural areas.

Touch NZ National Player and Coaching Development Manager and guru Peter Walters working with students at Mercury Bay Area School this week. Photo: Matt King

Flittering about from here to there, Peter has worked with students at Opoutere, Turua, Paeroa College, Mercury Bay Area, Tairua and Kerepehi schools, plus the Ngatea Rugby Club.

So what's his verdict of the past three days?

'It's been really awesome,” says Peter. 'I've really enjoyed myself these last few days and totally loved my time in the area.

'I haven't worked at a community level for many years now, so it's been really good for me as well getting back to grassroots and working with kids.”

National sporting body Touch NZ is making a concerted effort to get young people in rural areas not only taking up the touch rugby but falling in love with the sport too.

But Peter adds: 'I've been all over the country and these kids are no different to any other area in New Zealand.”

'You can definitely see which kid has either played touch or had a bit of coaching in the past because their skills and understanding of the game are a lot more proficient than the others.

'In saying that Tairua, gosh, the kids were awesome – their understanding, settling patterns and defence, geez I was impressed. Same with Manaia School yesterday.”

While it's a tricky question to answer, Peter does firmly believe that there are a large number of local students who have the potential to represent New Zealand in touch rugby.

The real challenge now for rural areas and Touch NZ was to create pathways that will take them all the way to the top.

'Obviously coming from a rural area you don't have the regular competitions and the big mass of numbers.

'But potential wise, the kids here in the Coromandel and Hauraki, they are just as good as any of the kids from city areas where there are more developed pathways.”