YOUTH PATHWAYS PARTNERSHIP SET TO SHOW THE WAY FOR CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE RANGATAHI
Canterbury Rugby League is pleased to announce its partnership with Youth Pathways, designed to help young players from our region navigate the myriad challenges of advancing their careers through to the elite levels away from home.
Youth Pathways is an NGO based in Canterbury that has been supporting youth and their whānau for almost a decade. They have a diverse team of 20 staff and provide multiple services across Canterbury, from mentoring to intensive wrap-around supports for rangatahi aged 10-21 years.
“This partnership is a great opportunity to support our rangatahi who hold aspirations of playing at a higher level,” CRL CEO Malcolm Humm said.
“We have heard of the experiences of some young players, and we feel we have an opportunity to improve these experiences through the support of Youth Pathways.
“Whether it be supporting parents with a better understanding of the challenges of progressing through a professional club’s system, providing goal-setting and mental health support, helping with the skills required of living in a flatting situation, understanding of transport systems in new cities, or vocational guidance, we believe this programme will make a difference.”
FIVE CHAMPIONS CROWNED ON YOUTH PATHWAYS 2025 YOUTH GRAND FINAL DAY AT NGĀ PUNA WAI
For the first time on Sunday, Youth Pathways was naming rights partner for CRL’s 2025 Youth Grand Final Day at Ngā Puna Wai, which featured five boys and girls youth grade deciders.
Some of the players on display will likely reap the benefits of Youth Pathways’ expertise and their invaluable C.O.R.E. – Confidence, Ownership, Resilience, Empowerment – programme.
“Young rugby league athletes face unique challenges on and off the field,” Youth Pathways General Manager Lee-Anne Savea says.
“Our mentoring programme will provide guidance and support to help navigate these challenges while they strive to achieve their goals.
“The C.O.R.E programme is a foundation that supports athletes’ wellbeing. It’s about rugby league and youth mentoring coming together to build an environment where rangatahi feel supported as they navigate their challenges, build on their strengths and stay true to their values.
Savea emphasised the component of supporting families, as well as the young individuals, as being central to Youth Pathways’ framework.
“The framework ‘Te waka kōtihi’ that underpins the programme – which translates to ‘the canoe of aspirational achievement’ – was gifted by (Canterbury Rugby League Chair) Dr Phil Borell and signifies the importance of the ancestral voyages, as well as the waka being stabilised by the two kiato,” Savea explains.
“For this framework, the kiato symbolise stability in identity and through various support mechanisms with the ama being the primary stabiliser via whānau, family, aiga.”
There are several staff members across the Youth Pathways team who have strong connections to our rugby league community through managing teams, are parents of players in current pathways or are playing in CRL’s senior grades.
Former Canterbury Bulls halfback and Cook Islands international Tevin Arona, who played in Canberra Raiders’ NYC team, the Warriors’ NSW Cup side and in the Queensland Cup, is also a member of the Youth Pathways staff – and can provide first-hand knowledge from his experiences at the professional level of the game.
Arona, alongside Savea, has been the driving force of this programme.
“There is vast knowledge across many areas within Youth Pathways that has supported this relationship,” Savea adds.
“Youth Pathways has established links across the wider South Island, including those in the Southern Zone. The combination of knowledge, experienced mentors and those familiar with the league pathways journey is proving to be a strong foundation for youth navigating and strengthening their opportunities.”
