General: Flag football tournament coming to New Plymouth

A fast-paced new sport will take centre stage in New Plymouth next month when the region’s first American flag football tournament is held at Stadium Taranaki.

The Black Sand Invitational, sponsored by Crowded House, will take place on December 6.

It would feature teams from across the central and lower North Island including the Hamilton Hawkes, Tauranga Tridents, Hawke’s Bay Heat, Wellington Wolves and two home teams from the Taranaki Kraken club.

Brooke Weck, who founded the sport in Taranaki and helped establish the local club, said hosting a competition had been a key milestone in the Kraken’s development.

“The Kraken Club is now in its third year, and part of our growth plan was always to host our own competition,” he said.

“We wanted to start small and build something sustainable that we can grow into a summer tradition.”

Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and is set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Games are shorter, 40 minutes each, but fast-moving and easy for newcomers to understand.

“This will be the first competition of its kind in New Plymouth. We hope locals come down to the stadium, grab a coffee or some food, and enjoy a few games.

“It’s a great chance to see what this Olympic sport is all about.”

The Kraken is Taranaki’s own flag football club, offering opportunities for both beginners and experienced players to join the sport.

With the Black Sand Invitational, the club hoped to boost interest and participation across the region.