TIMARU Outlaws have withdrawn from this year’s Rolleston Nines, leaving the New Zealand tournament with six teams competing this Saturday.
In an unprecedented start to the year for the exciting abbreviated version of rugby league, tournaments have already been held this year in Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Nadi (Fiji), Accra (Ghana) and Kundiawa (Papua New Guinea) with close to 1000 men and women taking part.
The game has never been more popular – despite the Global Pandemic which has restricted each of these events to domestic teams.
Now the focus shifts to the town of Rolleston in New Zealand’s Canterbury District, where the teams at Brookside Park will be the hosts, the Warriors, plus defending champions Canterbury Bati, Tonga Warriors, Burnham Chevaliers and Halswell Hornets.
“We’ve had to withdraw our entry as we haven’t had the numbers for training to prepare properly,” said an outlaws spokesman.
“It’s a let-down for the club but we hope to be able to attend next year.”
Action kicks off at 9.20am with the final set down for 3.25pm.
The blue chip Nines event in the Canterbury region is the Crosbie Nines, which will be held on February 20.
On the same day, the Cabramatta Nines in Sydney is expected to be back after being called off last year. Teams for that tournament will include Philippines, Vietnam, Latin Heat, Africa United, Greece, Lebanon, Italy and Niue.
