After being hampered by the Covid pandemic’s impact for so long, the Warriors Community Foundation broke free to join the Sky Sport Future Warriors on a three-stop upper North Island Sky Sport Roadshow over the school holidays.

On hand to drive activities were ambassador Ruben Wiki as well as NRLW players and foundation staff members Charlotte Scanlan and Kanyon Paul.

The journey started in Whangarei before moving to Mount Maunganui and then Rotorua with a total of more than 600 children revelling in the programme of drills, skills and fun activities delivered at each stop.

Apart from Wiki, Scanlan and Paul, the Warriors Community Foundation also had welcome support from 2008-2017 Vodafone Warriors prop Ben Matulino – who now lives in Papamoa – at the event held at Arataki Park in Mount Maunganui.

Players from the touring Sky Sport Future Warriors under-18 squad also chimed in to help with the activities.

“After being out of the community for so long because of Covid it was great to be back among the people and to see the smiles on kids’ faces,” said Warriors Community Foundation CEO Lincoln Jefferson.

“It was brilliant to have the foundation and our Sky Sport Future Warriors players and staff working together to make this a tour to remember. We’re also exceptionally grateful to Sky Sport for the support given to us and we look forward to another trip later this year.”

The clinics built around games played by the Sky Sport Future Warriors under-18s and an Auckland under-16 team were staged at Otaika Park in Whangarei on April 22-23, Arataki Park in Mount Maunganui on April 26-27 and Puketawhero Park in Rotorua on April 29-30.