Rugby World Cup part of school curriculum

ROBERT KITCHIN/Manawatu Standard

STUDY: About 480,000 Rugby World Cup activity books will be distributed to primary and intermediate schools nationwide, for inclusion in the social studies curriculum.

MARION VAN DIJK/The Nelson Mail

SCHOOLING: Rugby NZ 2011 director Leon Grice.

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Rugby World Cup

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The Rugby World Cup is set to become part of the school curriculum, and teachers are being urged to fork out for rugby-themed merchandise.

Primary school teachers will be encouraged to bedeck classrooms with strings of flags – available at $1.20 a metre – arrange school rugby tournaments and learn about international teams.

The initiative, by government body Rugby New Zealand 2011, stems from a plan to include pupils in its "stadium of four million" theme as the World Cup moves into classrooms from July.

About 480,000 activity books will be distributed to primary and intermediate schools nationwide, for inclusion in the social studies curriculum.

Rugby NZ 2011 director Leon Grice said the programme, developed with the Education Ministry and New Zealand Rugby Union, was a way for children to feel connected to and excited about the event.

"Given the Rugby World Cup ... is going to be the largest event New Zealand has ever staged, and it's going to be so dominant on the televisions and in households around New Zealand, we wanted to make sure that every school-aged child had access to information about it.

"We are going to have something that is relevant to learning, and totally connected to the Rugby World Cup when the tournament comes along."

While some of the resources were very much rugby-themed, other parts of the programme focused on the 19 other countries participating, he said. Activities incorporated English, mathematics, te reo, social science and physical education.

Teachers were being encouraged to buy flag decorations that would "get everyone in the spirit of RWC 2011". But this was not a money-making venture, Mr Grice said. Schools, cafes and retail outlets would be offered a string of flags for the "very, very cost-effective" price of $1.20 a metre.

There was no commercial branding on any of the resources, although logos of the Rugby World Cup, RNZ 2011 and NZRU would be displayed on the activity books.

- © Fairfax NZ News