Two East Coast schools are ready to create history in Rotorua.

For the first time, Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparaoa and Te Kura o Te Whānau-ā-Apanui are lining up in the National Secondary School Touch Championships, being held at the Westbrook Park in Rotorua from tomorrow until Sunday.

It’s a proud moment for the two schools, which are located a long way from any sort of high-level competition.

With touch rugby an easy sport to pick up and popular among whānau members, it’s been the sport of choice for the schools, with many team members already having played rugby or possessing good ball skills.

Both teams are playing in the mixed division, where they will line up against 43 other schools to battle it out for bragging rights.

Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparaoa are in a pool with James Cook High School, Rolleston College, Fraser High School and Hutt Valley High School, while Te Kura o Te Whānau a Apanui will face off against Wakatipu High School, Howick College, Mount Maunganui College, Queen Elizabeth College and a mixed team of Te Wharekura o Manaia and Te Kura A Rohe o Waiau.

Te Kura o Te Whānau-ā-Apanui manager Nikita Tahere said it was an exciting time for the two schools.

“This is the school’s first year joining it and making a touch team, so it’s all new to us.”

She said the team, which comprised children from various year levels, were counting down the days.

“They’re so excited. They cannot wait to get down there and play some touch.”

Her husband, Perryn Tahere, used to be a pupil at the school and is coaching the team. He noticed there was a lack of opportunity for the kids, so he wanted to try and create something for them.

“Our school is very rural and there are no opportunities sport wise, and he got into all of that growing up so thought about it and decided, let’s bring it back and put something on for our kids down here. It’s going awesome.”

It’s a sport that has been taking off in the community with plenty of whanau touch days on weekends.

“The community has been a great support and is right behind us. The touch days have been great.”

She said they had Googled some of their opposition to see just how big they were.

“We have been having a bit of a look and seeing what we are getting ourselves into. Our school is so tiny compared to what we are coming up against. We just have to work with what we have.”

Te Kura o Te Whānau-ā-Apanui has about 150 children, while Wakatipu High School has more than 1450 students, Mount Maunganui College, 1800, and Howick College, more than 2100.

Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparaoa has around 100 students and Fraser High School, 1450, James Cook High School, more than 1500, and 1720 pupils at Hutt Valley High School.

“It’s going to be different and very exciting. I can’t remember the last time our kids have got into any tournaments for sports.”

They hope it may provide a pathway for players to push towards higher honours in the future.

“The school and the families are here to support all our talent.”

Neither school has any set goals across the three days. They just want to make their family and supporters proud, inspire younger students and create a legacy at their school.

The two schools will be meeting in Rotorua and supporting each other at games. They even have a dinner planned together.

“We have been in close contact with them throughout this journey. It’s great for both schools,” Tahere said.

All going well, they’d love to face off on the field, but it will be a case of wait and see. “It’s going to be a pretty big experience for the kids, being at a tournament like this and part of the school’s first ever touch team.”

Even if they don’t win a game, expect the two schools from the Coast to have the biggest and loudest support crew.

Whakatāne High School is also in the mixed grade, while Trident High School has a girls’ team competing.