Rugby: Fundraising tournament gets big buy-in

At Miller Park eyeing up the Spartans rugby tournament next month are (from left) Shane Waldron,...
At Miller Park eyeing up the Spartans rugby tournament next month are (from left) Shane Waldron, Nick Chisholm, former All Black Kees Meeuws and former Otago captain John Leslie. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

The Spartans and 007 - they make an intriguing mix.

Both will have some input into a rugby tournament to be played in Dunedin late next month to help raise funds for injured players.

Shane Waldron, a rugby enthusiast and fitness trainer, is organising the Spartans tournament, a 10-a-side one-day competition to be played at Green Island's grounds at Miller Park.

He ran a small tournament along 10-a-side lines early this year but has decided to make it a bit bigger next year.

And he has already had buy-in from some heavy hitters.

Daniel Craig, the James Bond star, gave a contribution to the injured players' fund when he was training with Waldron last month.

Craig was in Dunedin supporting his wife, Rachel Weisz, while she filmed the movie The Light Between Oceans.

He trained at a gym with Waldron and wanted to pay for his time. Waldron suggested he put some money towards the injured players' fund and Craig was happy to do so. He declined to say how much was donated.

Waldron said the tournament was named after the Spartans - said to be a brave and tough group, which mirrored the actions of injured rugby players. Waldron works with former rugby player Nick Chisholm, who has locked-in syndrome.

The one-day tournament had attracted some interesting sides and there should be plenty of top action on January 31.

There will be 27 games, with 10-minute halves. Each team fields five backs and five forwards. A full quota of 16 teams have entered.

An auction will take place after the tournament and there will be donation boxes around the ground.

A Spartans side is sure to be a contender with the likes of former All Blacks Kees Meeuws and Paul Miller lining up. The side also includes former Otago captain and Scottish international John Leslie and former Scottish international Brendan Laney.

Club teams from Green Island and Alhambra-Union have entered and it will be a good indication of how pre-season fitness is shaping up. Club teams are also coming from Invercargill, Queenstown and Arrowtown, and an Otago Maori team has entered.

One team that may be hard to bowl will be a side of past and present Otago Boys' High School pupils, which could feature the likes of Otago representative Michael Collins and national schools player Sio Tomkinson.

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