As seen on odt.co.nz

By Kayla Hodge

Two former Kiwis will impart their wisdom to the next generation of Otago rugby league players this weekend.

Jeff Lima and Shontayne Hape, and Otago Rugby League coaches, are hosting a development day at Logan Park on Sunday.

Lima played 127 NRL games, 97 Super League games and seven tests for the Kiwis, while Hape played 28 games for the Warriors and made 125 Super League appearances and 14 tests for the Kiwis, before switching to rugby union, where he played internationally for England.

The development day morning is designed for primary and intermediate aged players, while the afternoon is designed for players from the grades under-14 to under-18.

Southern zone club capability and event manager Louis Carmine said players would run through various skills, drills, games and wellbeing sessions.

Hape, who now works for New Zealand Rugby League, and Lima would also discuss NRL pathways for young athletes.

Carmine said the development day, similar to one held in Invercargill recently, was a good opportunity for young athletes to learn from the best.

“It’s cool to see sort of those pathways and realise that even for here in Otago there’s definitely still those opportunities for them,” Carmine said.

Players can register on the Otago Rugby League website.