About Rugby For Life

As an employer, I see kids coming through with a lack of confidence. Sport enhances abilities and makes people resilient. Rugby is the sport we love and RFL is gaining momentum to do things better, collectively. It is an important ecosystem that provides opportunities in education, wellness, and employment. If I can use my talents to support these communities, I want to be a part of it.

Rugby for Life was founded on an idea to do good in the community and help Northland families thrive by using the local rugby clubs as hubs for sport and provide opportunities around wellness, employment, and training. Riki played rugby for Otago and co-owns the Duke of Marlborough in Russell. His whakapapa goes back to Nga Puhi.

RFL provides a bridge between the rugby community and essential services in education, health, and employment to provide solutions. RFL connects sponsors to support the clubs that benefit the game as well as the community. The game is important but people are more important. I am passionate about rugby and see real value in the service delivery of RFL. Iwi – Ngati Porou

Sharon was the first female President of Northland Rugby Union – the first for any provincial union in NZ and served as Deputy Mayor of Whangarei. Sharon’s incredible energy, integrity, dignity, and humour has benefited the Northland community. Sharon brings her passion for sport and the arts to help guide the leading principles of RFL around wellness, education, and employment.

In Martin’s own words “I live and breathe rugby!” Martin Cleave has been a Rugby For Life Trustee from the start. He has a diverse professional background having worked in many sectors including; Film and television, senior management, acompany director, Board directorships, company owner and CEO.
Martin (Te Rarawa, Ngatiwai,Tainui) has been deeply involved with Marae, Hapu, Iwi and Māori business owners working collaboratively to provide positive outcomes for those communities. He has mentored rangatahi, youth to build their personal capacity, encouraging and training them to take on higher education and more senior roles.
Martin shares this same passion and drive with Rugby for Life and their clubs. Providing personal insight and experience to help clubs increase growth, stability, and longevity. Martin’s ongoing commitment and celebration of diversity are true assets for Rugby For Life.

Ashleigh joins the team with a wealth of knowledge and experience under her belt. Ashleigh is the Commercial Partnerships Manager for Moana Pasifika. A comprehensive role that works to identify, research, and make recommendations on new business partnerships and opportunities that focus on aligning values and initiatives to Māori and Pasifika communities. She also has experience working as the Cook Islands Rugby Union President, Womens & Junior Development Lead, Treasurer, National Mens Sevens Manager and National Mens 15’s Manager. During her time Ashleigh was part of the planning and implementation of programs for community initiatives amongst many other key areas that helped to engage local communities to support sustainable growth across all areas of the game.

Ashleigh says, “I was excited to be a part of Rugby For Life because I believe that first and foremost sport can be used as a platform to engage with, empower, develop and connect communities.” She is a passionate, collaborative, and skilled professional with proven experience working in sport with community engagement at the forefront and Rugby For Life is very excited to have her on board!

Tuck Waaka is a well-known New Zealand rugby personality with a long history with our country’s most loved game. Born in Masterton, at a young age Tuck relocated to the Hokianga with his whanau. In Tuck’s own words; “I grew up in a rugby mad family!” His brothers played for Hokianga and Northland and his sister Cheryl represented NZ as a Black Fern.
Over the years Tuck was 1st XV captain for Northland College, a rep for Otago University under 19s, Otago, and was the winning captain for Bay of Plenty the inaugural year of the ITM cup (NPC). Tuck was also captain for the NZ Māori team and won the Ranfurly Shield while playing with Northland.
With a deep understanding of how rugby can benefit communities; becoming a part of Rugby for Life seemed a natural progression for Tuck. He feels that; “Rugby clubs can provide opportunities for tamariki to engage in physical activity, learn valuable life skills and develop a sense of belonging. The clubs are also a great place to promote health and wellbeing programmes and community engagement.” We are very fortunate to have Tuck’s firsthand experience, knowledge and wisdom integrated into the pillars of Rugby for Life.

Nigel, originally from the Hawkes Bay, played age-group representative in both rugby and cricket. He went to Otago University in the early 1990’s playing senior grade rugby. After graduating he left to develop a career in finance in London. A passionate kiwi, he loves all sport and what it can do for communities. Nigel is currently developing the Rugby For Life relationships in Europe. He is working with kiwis to reconnect and give back to grassroots rugby and its community in Northland. Nigel’s father Graeme played hooker in the 1966 season for Mid-Western club in Maungakaramea whilst on a work placement which contributes to his passion to help communities in the far North.

RFL has been the only programme to deliver real value with outcomes, personnel, and monetary contributions towards helping our clubs be sustainable. The need is huge yet our volunteers are struggling. People want to be part of something special that does good and RFL is demonstrating that positive outcomes for the community comes from collective support.

Strength is the people; strength is the tribe. When we give them opportunities, the strength goes to the clubs and communities. RFL has helped to provide many significant outcomes for clubs and especially the community around Take 2 for the Team. Empowering Club Coordinators to do what’s right for the whānau and community will ensure club sustainability. Iwi – Nga Puhi

Cameron is the Chief Executive of the Northland Rugby Union. He is a passionate Northlander, leading a team to grow our community rugby and establish pathways that enhance individuals and grow Northland.

Volunteers are crucial to our communities and RFL are helping to provide a vital link with the clubs as hubs model between rugby and whānau to help them thrive. From helping kids gain their drivers license that leads to employment to supporting more Club Coordinators, RFL saw the need and took action to help solve real problems. Iwi – Te Aroha and

I saw the fantastic impact rugby had on my boy and knew RFL was all about community and kids and that I had to be involved. We had a recent life-changing experience when we took the kids to a rugby match and they met the Taniwha as many had never been to a game before. We are creating opportunities and pathways. Iwi – Ngapuhi

RFL is a community organisation that is helping to grow a healthy rugby culture. I am personally interested in making a positive impact and looking at the bigger picture of where we go next. We have big social issues here and RFL is using sports and the club to bring people together.

Our club is focused on kids. Sport is really important for the kids and the community. We support the volunteers too, for without them, our club would not exist. RFL is a wicked initiative that helps lots of people and I am proud to be a part of it.

We work together for the good of the community. The culture at the club is good and we are supporting volunteers to make the club more efficient. We are keeping the doors open off-season with Friday night dinners where everyone is welcome to host community links and summer events. We dedicate our time to the growth of the players that leads to whānau benefits.

We used to have a strong rugby club in Whangaruru, and over the past 20 years the numbers have dropped dramatically. The need is huge and RFL has opened our eyes on how to do things differently. Today, we are showing the kids that there are people who care and want to help by transforming our rugby club into a hub while promoting all sports in our community. Iwi – Nga te Wai

Kia Ora,
My name is Lance Nepia and I am a Kaipara boy born and bred. I grew up playing junior and then senior rugby in Otamatea for the mighty Hawks. Although largely retired from playing, I manage to evade my wife’s ire and get a game in sometimes, or at least 5 minutes of one. Rugby has always been more than a sport to me – the game, the team, and the community it resided in was my place of strength and security growing up. It taught me the value of comradery, pride and self-worth. The four pillars of Rugby for Life struck a chord with me, with their goals of increasing club sustainability and enhancing community through rugby, health & wellbeing, education and employment. I am excited in my role of RFL coordinator to assist our valuable volunteers in growing the Mana Atua of the clubs & community.

RFL has helped us understand what we need to do and offers perspective and networks that connect us to the right people. We started with a couple of kids teams and this year we had 7 teams with 86 kids. We will always have a need in our isolated community. Having rugby available and accessible with the focus on children first and foremost is essential. Iwi – Te Uri O Hau

RFL helps to bring my community together and we are now able to move forward at a faster pace. It is necessary and important to have a dedicated paid person to apply for funding and help grow the game. We are a small community about to make big changes by allowing easier access for women and organising touch rugby and a 7’s tournament. Ahipara is a club that looks after whānau.
Iwi – Te Aroha

RFL is helping us breathe life into our club that brings people in our community together. We have amazing volunteers and need funding to enhance the culture of our community. We see RFL helping us to provide healthier living and the club as a positive space for our people to be free. Iwi – Ngati Kahi Ki – Whangaroa and Ngapuhi Ki - Whangaroa

Kat is a Whangarei local who has been involved in rugby for the past 12 years through her own children playing. Kat’s experience includes managing multiple teams and running tournaments, including the Taniwha tournament for 2 years. In 2022 Kat began working for the Northland Rugby Referee Association as their Referee Administrator. She is responsible for coordinating referees from Wellsford up to the Far North.

When asked why Kat wanted to become a part of Rugby For Life she expressed that; “Rugby For Life works with ‘on the ground’ community people. The people who make commitments as volunteers to help their communities.” Kat appreciates volunteers knowing firsthand how they get stuck into it and get things done while overcoming obstacles. She is looking forward to building relationships with Rugby For life clubs and opening the lines of communications with them and referees. Kat feels that stronger clubs help to build stronger communities and is looking forward to building stronger relationships.