All Blacks legend Keven Mealamu is heading to Poverty Bay this Friday to lead a seminar focused on creating positive rugby environments.

Mealamu, who is a New Zealand Rugby Ambassador, is delivering workshops throughout New Zealand and will speak to the Poverty Bay rugby community at Gisborne Girls high school.

The 132-Test All Black said he was excited to visit the east coast region and share his rugby experiences with the local community.

“Rugby is in every community in New Zealand and that gives us a great opportunity promote the sport’s values, create change and take leadership, said Mealamu.

“The Rugby Way seminars are all about creating environments which impact our communities in a positive way and I’m looking forward to sharing some of my stories about how rugby has impacted me. It’s going to be a really good evening.”

Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union CEO, Josh Willoughby, said Mealamu’s visit aligned with the union’s launch of its junior club rugby season and the Board’s work on a respect and inclusion strategy.

“Keven’s visit is timely, and we’ve been looking at ways that rugby can be an important vehicle for change. The Respect and Inclusion Strategy and the Rugby Way forum are initiatives that can benefit all of rugby including our wider community and that’s exciting to be a part of, said Willoughby.

“We’re looking forward to hosting Keven and seeing him bring the Rugby Way values to life. It’s not every day someone of his mana is in front of people delivering these sorts of workshops.”

The Rugby Way seminar will take place at 6pm on Friday 3 May at Gisborne Girls High School, entry is free.

About The Rugby Way

The Rugby Way – Te Ara Rangatira – is New Zealand Rugby’s vision to Inspire and Unify. The Rugby Way has four guiding pillars/pou and hopes to create rugby environments that are safe for all, where people feel included, where the diversity of the community is reflected and where our rugby environments play a positive and active role in our community.

The four pillars/pou:

• Be welcoming: Rugby is a game for all, regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, or identity
• Be our best: We strive for excellence on and off the field, driven by a belief that rugby can improve people’s lives
• Be passionate: Rugby is more than just a game, it builds communities and fosters a lifelong love of the sport
• Play fair: We always act with honesty and integrity