Stags Take Rural Roadie to the Province

The Southland Stags are heading bush this July, visiting eight rural clubs across the province in a single day.

The annual Rural Roadie runs on Tuesday July 7, with the Stags squad splitting into four groups to cover ground from Drummond to Tokanui. The initiative is free to attend and aimed squarely at junior players and families who don't often get a chance to meet their provincial heroes up close.

Sponsored by Advance Agriculture and Regional Ford, the day involves Stags players running rugby activities, sharing skills, signing posters and spending time with kids and communities at each stop.

The full schedule:

• Drummond Rugby Club – 1.15pm
• Wyndham Rugby Club – 1.30pm
• Riversdale Rugby Club – 1.45pm
• Otautau Rugby Club – 1.45pm
• Mossburn Rugby Club – 2.45pm
• Waiau Star Rugby Club – 3.00pm
• Tokanui Rugby Club – 3.00pm
• Albion Rugby Club – 3.30pm

The Rural Roadie has quietly become one of the more worthwhile things Southland Rugby does during the school holidays. Getting rep players out of Invercargill and into small clubs — where the game is kept alive by volunteers, muddy boots and Saturday morning sausage sizzles — matters more than any marquee event in a big stadium.