Kennards, a major partner of North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU) since 2018 and the naming rights sponsor of their junior and senior club rugby since 2022, is stepping up its support for grassroots sport with two new initiatives this season.
Junior Rugby Competition Champions Grassroots Sport with $1,000 Grants & Special Treat for Volunteers
The company has launched a competition tied to its anticipated ‘Real Resilience Awards’, which recognise junior rugby players who show up for their team consistently but may not always receive the spotlight. Recipients of these awards now have the chance to secure $1,000 for their club’s end-of-year celebrations.
Kennards Hire New Zealand General Manager Tom Kimber explains the competition aims to reward young athletes’ dedication, resilience, and commitment to their teams.
“The ‘Real Resilience Awards’ were introduced to recognise the commitment and effort of young players who consistently show up for their team, even if they don’t always receive the ‘Player of the Match’ accolades. It’s Kennards Hire’s way of acknowledging the true spirit of rugby—dedication, resilience, and teamwork. We’re excited to build on the awards through this new competition,” said Tom.
The ‘Real Resilience Award’ is a participation incentive award aligning with Kennards Hire’s company values, developed to encourage young children to keep striving. The award is distributed across 13 clubs registered for the junior competition, with one player per week, per club, receiving the award. Roughly 7,000 players are registered for the junior competition. This season, players who have received the award can go in the draw to win $1000 for their clubs’ end-of-year celebrations by filling out an online competition entry form and uploading a picture of their certificate.
Relay Competition with Surprise Twist to Honour Volunteer Coaches, Managers & Parents
As part of its ongoing commitment to support volunteers, Kennards Hire honoured the often-unsung heroes of junior rugby by hosting a special relay race Saturday, 14 September during the North Harbour Vs Manawatū match at North Harbour Stadium. The race took place alongside other festivities during the game, including a junior club parade and merchandise giveaways.
The Kennards Hire relay comprised of a half-time activation for the volunteers who make the junior club competition possible in the first place. Parents, coaches and managers were invited to make up four teams of four to participate in the relay. Relay activities included balancing a rugby ball on a shovel, moving the ball downfield with a leaf blower, and passing the ball into a cement mixer.
In an unexpected treat to reward the volunteers and acknowledge all the hard work and dedication they put into each season, each team was announced the winner and provided with a unique corporate hospitality experience including 10 tickets to the next match with food, beverages and parking.
Kennards Hire Continuing its Commitment to Grassroots Sport
These new initiatives build on Kennards Hire’s long-standing dedication to the local rugby community. The company’s involvement has grown over the years, with a focus on giving back and supporting the development of young talent in New Zealand’s grassroots rugby scene.
NHRU CEO Adrian Donald said, “It’s outstanding to have a company with great values, like Kennards Hire, supporting grassroots rugby in our North Harbour community, highlighting the importance of participating in sport and the value individuals get out of being part of a team. The continued enhancement of this partnership has been fantastic for the growth of community rugby in North Harbour, and we look forward to this continuing into the future.”
Through programs such as these, Kennards Hire aims to continue its long history of contributing to development and growth of grassroots sports, which plays a vital role in lifting up communities and nurturing both future stars and committed players of the game.