There was an air of excitement yesterday as Maniototo Area School pupils shared the bus to school with their rugby idols, but it was hard to say who was more thrilled - the children or the Highlanders.
The squad has been in the Maniototo for three days, billeted with the families of rugby-playing youngsters as part of a ''grassroots''initiative. Coach Jamie Joseph said the Highlanders were from a small, farming-based community so it was important to give players a taste of that.
School principal David Hunter said the school was ''fair buzzing''.
''What a marvellous initiative this is. They've been talking for a while about rugby going back to its grassroots, and this is not a bad way of doing it.
''The Highlanders are great ambassadors for their sport and the kids have been so excited about it. How many young people get an opportunity like this - being able to billet an All Black or professional rugby player in your home.''
The players went to training in Ranfurly yesterday morning, travelling on the school buses with their hosts.
''Most of our pupils - 90% of them - are predominantly bus kids, so again, it gives them a bit of perspective on the amount of travel our kids have to do to play their sport. Some of them travel up to 40 minutes to get to school,'' Mr Hunter said.
Highlander and All Black Aaron Smith was hosted by the Pyle family, of the Ida Valley, and travelled to school with Reuben Pyle (13). They were picked up at Oturehua and were among the first on the bus so made a beeline for the back seat.
''This is pretty much my first time on a school bus, so I'm quite excited, '' Smith said.
''I lived near the school when I was growing up [in Feilding] so I walked to school and I was always a bit envious of the bus kids.''
He was ''very much'' enjoying being hosted by the Pyles and the wider Maniototo community and Reuben said it was ''pretty cool, getting to know him and having him to stay''.
Smith's host ''mother'', Julie Pyle, said billeting the Highlanders with families was a great idea.
''I'm not sure who was more nervous at the start, him or us, but it's been really cool and worked out great.''
A community barbecue was held on Monday night and the school declared yesterday a ''blue, gold and maroon day'' in honour of their guests. The players were greeted at assembly and spent time in the classrooms answering questions before training in temperatures reaching the mid-30s, Mr Hunter said.
Highlanders captain Andrew Hore hosted the players yesterday afternoon at his family farm, ''Stonehenge'', and they spent last night with their host families. Today, they head back to Ranfurly on the school buses for another training session before they leave the area.
