There has been a solid increase in the number of people playing rugby in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Rugby Union says player numbers for 2008 are over the 140,000 mark.
That represents a three percent increase on last year's figures.
The NZRU General Manager Community and Provincial Union Rugby, Brent Anderson, says the rise in numbers is a boost for the game.
He says overall since 2004 there has been a sixteen percent increase in player numbers.