ON SCREEN: Andrew Malcolm, left, director of Sports Club Apps, and Steve Hackett, general manager of Pakuranga United, show off the club’s new way of engaging with members and supporters. Times photo Bruce Nicholson

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

A NEW smartphone application designed to help re-energise community support for grass-roots rugby clubs is being trialled for the first time in New Zealand by Pakuranga United Rugby Club.

The Pakuranga Rugby App aims to connect with players, supporters and sponsors by supplying up-to-date news, photos, draws, and team and club information.

Pakuranga United general manager Steve Hackett says the club’s excited to be involved in a New Zealand first.

“Using this new technology to engage with our community and strengthen club spirit is something we strive for. Being able to provide information which our supporters can view wherever they are is exciting.

“We hope that the app will encourage greater awareness of Pakuranga rugby in the community, to create greater crowd support at the games and around the club,” says Hackett.

Andrew Malcolm, a director of Sports Club Apps, is enjoying working on technology that will benefit the rugby community.

“Being a member of Pakuranga, it’s great to give back to a club which has offered me a lot, not just in terms of rugby, but in terms of the relationships I have formed through the club.

“We’ve identified a gap in Pakuranga’s interaction with the community, and being able to fill it is fantastic.”

Malcolm’s vision for Sports Club Apps is to provide smartphone applications for other clubs across the country.

The application was developed using a platform created by App La Carte, which devises apps for small businesses.

“Our goal is for this to remain a free service for clubs. We’re hoping to be able to provide football, cricket, rugby league and netball apps in the near future.

“Rugby is just the start,” says Malcolm.

To download the smartphone app, search for “Pakuranga Rugby” in the iTunes App Store, or in the Android Marketplace.