Central Otago U13-grade teams pose with their Highlander heroes co-captain Nasi Manu (front) and Mark Reddish (back) in Cromwell on Friday.
Rugby-mad children from Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes took the chance to meet some of their heroes, with one player winning Manu's rugby boots.
About 120 players from local rugby teams from Queenstown to the Maniototo threw balls and tackled their rugby heroes in a special coaching session run by the Highlanders at Anderson Park yesterday.
Co-captain Manu, lock Reddish and hooker Sam Anderson-Heather took the players from six teams through drills and skills training.
Manu was impressed by Alexandra-Clyde open grade player Cody Millan (11) so much he took off his bright orange boots and gave them to him.
Cody, who was judged the most valuable player, said it was ''awesome'' winning the boots and training with the Highlanders, and could not wait to try the boots on.
Coach Duncan Randall said the ''excitement'' had been building for the past couple of weeks and the boys loved learning skills from the players they normally saw only on television.
''I think it's good for grass-roots rugby,'' he said.
Highlanders marketing manager Amanda Gould said the day was an opportunity for young rugby players in rural areas to meet the Highlanders and learn more skills.
