International school netball champs for Rotorua

Rotorua has secured hosting rights for the 2015 Trans Tasman Secondary Schools Netball competition.

The event is to be staged at the Energy Events Centre from May 25 to May 28 this year.

Destination Rotorua’s Events & Venues general manager, Peter McLeod, said eight teams were expected to participate with most from overseas

“They’re not just from Australia and New Zealand but they’re also coming from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

“Players, along with officials and their supporters teams, will be arriving in Rotorua at least a couple of days before the event gets underway for pre-championships training at the Sportsdrome. It means they’ll be staying in our city for at least seven days all up.”

Mr McLeod said hosting rights for the event alternated from year-to-year between Australia and New Zealand, and 2015 was New Zealand’s turn again.

“Adelaide has become the tournament’s home base in Australia and our goal is to achieve the same status for Rotorua whenever it’s held in New Zealand. We hosted it here successfully in 2013 so this is already back-to-back hosting for Rotorua on the New Zealand leg.”

Mr McLeod said 2015 was shaping up as a major year of sporting action for the city with other events - such as the National Maori Basketball Tournament, Rotorua Bike Festival, Crankworx Rotorua, Warriors versus Penrith Panthers league match and May’s Chiefs versus the Bulls Super 15 game - attracting strong interest and participation from around the country and from overseas.

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