At Toyota, we are extremely proud of our commitment to the local communities in which we operate. We want to celebrate and protect the unique lifestyle that is the backbone of our society, that we believe helps to build a better tomorrow.

Club rugby is the foundation and heart of all kiwi rugby, and rugby clubs serve valuable roles as community centres throughout the country.

Toyota Grassroots Rugby is a long-running weekly television series that covers local club rugby at its best, at ‘grass roots’ level, the Kiwi way!

At Toyota we recognise that the boys and girls at the top of their game had to start somewhere, and that’s where their local club rugby played an integral role. Toyota Grassroots rugby producer, Graeme Veitch, believes club level rugby assists participant’s development as players but also as people.

“The total dedication by thousands of young, and not so young, men and women to attend training on cold winter evenings can only be admired by all… then they turn out weekend after weekend to do battle on the rugby fields of our country to uphold the pride and tradition of their club,” says Mr Veitch. 

He says it is not about the winning or losing, or the hope of one day being an All Black, it’s simply about playing this great game of ours.

For over 100 years a mere handful of these battles were televised and then only some of the Club finals, then nearly a decade ago along came Toyota Grassroots Rugby.  Standing the test of time, now all 21 weeks of the Club Rugby season receives on air coverage and this has helped to preserve the rich sporting and community traditions of Grassroots Rugby.