As an integral part of their learning and development, 18 students on NorthTec's Diploma in Sport and Recreation (Level 6) will be charged with organising several key regional events including its first for the Northland Rugby Union.

The first of these events will be the Whangarei Primary Schools Sports Association (WPSSA) Cross-Country Championships at Barge Park in Maunu on 9 September, the same day as the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off.

This event will be followed by the Rippa rugby tournaments to be held in Whangarei, Kaitaia and Kerikeri for primary school-aged children. Rippa rugby is a version of the game that is non-contact and where players rip Velcro-tags off the opposition instead of tackling.

NorthTec tutor, Bobby Newport, said the event management opportunities the students have been given provide students with "hands-on" experience in organising and running big events which was ideal for their development.

Spokesperson for the students, Kerrin Taylor, said NorthTec has been organising the WPSSA Cross Country event for several years now, with this, and the other events they are organising, counting towards their event management paper on the two-year diploma.

Kerrin said organising the upcoming Cross Country event has required careful planning that has to factor in nearly every eventuality. The students have had to deal with many matters like the design of the course at Barge Park through to establishing distances for the different age groups competing and the catering and refreshments.

The Sport and Recreation students were gaining invaluable experience that would go some way to help with their knowledge base for a range of sports-related jobs.

Entries for the Cross Country event on September 9 must be in by Monday, 29 August. Enquires can be made with bnewport@northtec.ac.nz or on 09 470 4148.

Entry forms and further information can be found on the NorthTec website.