Info

Coach, Train and Play Rugby Union at a club in Auckland AND help out coaching sports to children in some local schools. New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world at Rugby Union!

This project gives you a diverse experience in that your activities will take place in two locations and the opportunity to coach other sports as well:
► 1. You'll spend your afternoons and evenings coaching and/or training at a Rugby Club in Auckland.
► 2. During the mornings and early afternoons, for about 4-5 hours every day, you'll bring very welcome sports coaching skills in the School Sports project.

This project takes place in a school in one of the suburbs of Auckland and here you'll coach Rugby plus a variety of other sports to children from the Maori community and other countries. You'll work with a variety of ages at the club and during the weekend you will have an opportunity to compete yourself and test your abilities against the Kiwis! The club we work with has a very lively social scene and you will be welcomed with open arms.


YOUR PROJECT AT THE RUGBY CLUB

This element of your programme will take place in the late afternoons and evenings. You'll work at a Rugby Union club that is conveniently located fairly close to your accommodation in Auckland. Auckland is home to the Blues Rugby Team which plays in the Super 14. The stadium is located fairly close to your accommodation and if you time your placement to take place during the season, you should try and watch a game.

The club has excellent facilities, including an indoor Astroturf training facility, and a large number of junior teams that you'll have the opportunity to coach. They also have a large number of senior teams including a women's team as well as colts teams (under 19s & under 21s) which you'll have the opportunity to coach, train with and possibly play for if you get selected. The club we work with plays to a high standard in Auckland.

The age ranges we work with include U6's to U13's, and U19's and U21's (Colts)
If you'd like to play Rugby while on your project, you may be able to play with a number of senior teams. There is a good mixture of standards at the clubs so there is something for everyone. Rugby in Auckland is also divided by weight so if you are under 85 kg you can play in the restricted weight category which tends to be a very fast paced and exciting game to play.

Games take place on the weekends during the season. The juniors play their game in the morning where you will have the opportunity to coach a team putting everything you have taught them into practice on the field. In the afternoon as a senior player it will be your opportunity to play.


YOUR SPORTS PROJECT AT THE SCHOOL

The School Sports Project will take place during the day. For this element of your programme, you'll work at a school located in Auckland that has children from a variety of backgrounds and countries such as Maori children and children from Sudan and Somalia who are refugees, as well as children from other lower economic countries such as Samoa and Tonga. The school has good facilities that will enable you to coach a variety of different sports.

You can coach a number of sports and you will be involved in a wide range of sporting activities, giving you great diversity. The sports are generally coached by season, but if you wanted to coach a sport that was not in season, or if you wanted to introduce a new sport to the children, the school would welcome it as long as it was of benefit to the children. Each school offers different sports so if there was a particular sport that you were interested in coaching please let us know and we will make arrangements for this.

The sports vary with each term, as follows:
• Term 1: Swimming, Tennis, Cricket, Athletics
• Term 2: Rugby Union & League, Football, Hockey, Netball
• Term 3: Rugby League, Football, Netball
• Term 4: Athletics, Cricket, Cross Country & Football.

The lessons last for 45 minutes and the school day runs from around 8:30 - 3:00 pm. You'll assist the sports teacher to coach the children. You'll spend about 3 to 5 hours a day helping the children at the school.


WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT

► An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure!
► The rewards from helping others and Making a Difference!
► New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
► An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market
► And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!


WHAT TO DO NEXT

►Talk to us - We're there to help you. Call +44 (0) 1903 502595
►Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!
►If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us!
►If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.
►It’s as easy as that.


ACCOMMODATION AND LOCATION

Our accommodation is located in the city centre of Auckland. Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping district. You'll live in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long-term stays. You may have your own room or you may share a room with other volunteers. There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax.
Entertainment at your accommodation includes cheap internet access and cable TV (Sky) as well as an outside balcony. You are literally a stroll from the Sky Tower, harbor and waterfront. Trains and buses are also only a few minutes away to take you to parts of Auckland and New Zealand or to the many other ‘things to do’!

The city centre boasts great shopping, restaurants and pubs or head over to the viaduct for more pubs, nightclubs and multicultural cuisine. You'll get to work via bus, which is close to your accommodation.

Maori settlement in Auckland was at least 800 years ago where by different tribes built fortifications on the various volcanoes in Auckland. When the British arrived in 1840 they claimed Auckland as the capital city of New Zealand until Wellington became the capital 25 years later.The city is modern and vibrant - a fun and friendly city with beautiful surrounding islands and harbour.

Some of its more famous attractions include the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island, the Harbour, the Hukani Gulf Islands and the many extinct volcanoes that are in Auckland which provide great views of the city.

Auckland has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is New Zealand lamb which can be ordered at many restaurants around the city and is well worth it. For meals in local restaurants, a trip to Auckland's inner city centre is well worth the effort - it bustles with activity and offers a range of choices of restaurants.


OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY...

"Everyone is so nice and welcoming over here. The kids at the school couldn't be happier that I'm here to coach rugby, and couldn't be keener to get stuck in! Its a lot different at the rugby club as the kids there are far more privileged, and seem less interested when at training, but it just means that I have a greater challenge in front of me and am looking forward to seeing the results once I come to the end of my time there! Have my first game with the school team on Tuesday so should be interesting to see how much they have picked up in the short time I've been there. "- Jonathan Dick

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £1295 for four weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.

Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm and knowledge of sports! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.