The New Zealand Sports Academy kicked off their California tour in San Diego this past sunday attracting 65 club, college, and youth coaches. "It is exciting to see so much enthusiasm and passion for the game," stated All Blacks legend Wayne "Buck" Shelford. "The way forward for this country has got to be the youth, so it was encouraging to see the number of youth coaches here."

The clinic was a half day clinic which focused on continuity, set piece, ball handling, defense, and of course, the philosophy of "Maori Rugby."

The New Zealand Rugby Academy will continue with stops in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara this week, concluding with a final clinic this Saturday at San Francisco Golden Gate's Treasure Island facility.

You can still sign up for the clinic in San Francisco here.