Popular rugby tournament back for sixth edition

The 2023 tournament will be the sixth time it has been held and it is played in honour of a special Otautau lad.

All roads lead to Otautau on Friday with the popular annual Jonty Carran Memorial Tackle 10s tournament to be held in the Southland town.

The 2023 tournament will be the sixth time it has been held and it is played in honour of a special Otautau lad.

On February 28, 2016, 13-year-old Jonty Carran went to sleep and never woke up.

Countless tests followed his death in the search for why the young, healthy, and athletic boy never woke up.

He was a talented young sportsperson, with rugby one of his sporting loves.

His legacy continues to live on through a popular girls and boys Year 7 and 8 annual 10-a-side rugby tournament.

Each year a Jonty Carran Memorial rugby tournament has been played in his honour in his hometown of Otautau.

Teams from throughout Southland converge on Otautau for the annual 10-a-side tournament. 

It all kicks off at 9am on Friday with games spread across Holt Park and the aptly named Jonty Carran Park at the Otautau School.