Rippa rugby across the Bay of Plenty continues to prove popular with Tauranga schools capping off a record term.

Thursday afternoon saw Greerton Marist Rugby Club alive with an abundance of rippa rugby finals as schools looked to finish Term One on a high.

Maungatapu Tigers' player of the season Casey Pearson, 5, charging down the field. Photos by Tracy Hardy.

For the last six weeks this term 67 teams from a range of Tauranga primary schools, including Kaimai Primary, Oropi School and Tauranga Primary School, have been taking part in the module hosted by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

Rippa Rugby is the introductory game used to introduce youngsters to the basic skills of rugby, and helps teach the two fundamental skills of evasion and passing the ball.

The union's junior Development officer Mark Roberts says Thursday's event was a 'little wrap up” finals night to mark the end of the term for the 670 or so pupils taking part.

Along with the Greerton Module, the rugby union has a module in Papamoa and Omokoroa – bringing the total to about 130 teams from across the Western Bay of Plenty.

Something Roberts is thrilled about as the sport continues to prosper in the region.

'Last year we had 56 [in the Greerton module] so it's quite a big jump. It's certainly a record number at this stage,” says Roberts.

'I'm real stoked about how the schools are really proactive about it.”

Roberts says while there is always an element of competitiveness the objective of rippa rugby is to get good even matches and for the children to walk away having had a 'good rugby experience”.

'I think every year it sort of jumps a level in terms of the kids. I think the main thing is they are getting good even competition and it is fun.”