Ripper of a time had by all

Max Brundell [9] of Rotary Park School holds the England Flag during the Rippa rugby primary schools match held at Logan Park on Monday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Josef van Plateringen [10] of Grants Braes School gets passed Tylar Diack [10] of Kaikorai School during the Rippa rugby primary schools match held at Logan Park on Monday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Hannah Moore [10] of Grants Braes school scores a try while Kaikorai School Tom McGregor [11] watching during the Rippa rugby primary schools match held at Logan Park on Monday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

St Leonards pupils with Scotland flag from left Chelsea McDouall [9] Rochelle Tichborne [11] and Zoe Szostak [9] during the Rippa rugby primary schools match held at Logan Park on Monday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Rippa rugby enthusiasts from Dunedin's primary schools competed in their own tournament to determine which team would claim the coveted title of the best in the world, at Logan Park yesterday.

In what could be an ominous foreboding for another, more serious and more competitive oval-ball tournament under way in New Zealand at the moment, a team of Kaikorai School primary pupils representing South Africa were crowned the winners.

The Kaikorai Valley school could well prove to be a breeding ground for Dunedin's rugby talent, with two teams of year 5 and 6 primary pupils contesting a close final, Sport Otago community and schools adviser Katie Menzies said.

Kaikorai's South African team edged out a Fijian team of its classroom compatriots 11-10 in the tournament closer.

"The basic idea was to get as many as possible involved with the game down close to the new stadium. It was a celebration of rugby," Ms Menzies said.

About 150 pupils from Dunedin schools, representing 14 different teams from around the world, were involved in the tournament.

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