Rugby: Fekitoa 'stoked ... it's just unreal'

It is a long way from the tiny Tongan village of Faleloa to the white-hot cauldron of an All Black test.

Malakai Fekitoa took another significant step on that journey yesterday.

The Highlanders centre, who turned 22 on Saturday, has been one of the form players in the Super 15 this season and was named in the All Blacks wider training squad yesterday.

The selection was still sinking in yesterday for the quietly-spoken back, who was deemed surplus to requirements at the Blues at the end of last season.

''I was pretty stoked. I got a text earlier on today. It was just unreal. I texted my family right away. They are just so happy,'' he said.

''It was not really a dream, to be honest. When I was in Tonga, I did not know I was going to go anywhere. I was just stuck at school and I was learning to play.

''I wanted to make the World Cup for sevens for Tonga. I made the wider squad and that was great.

''Then I was lucky enough to get that scholarship to Wesley [College] and it all changed from there for me. Everything changed. I wanted to stay and play in New Zealand. I just wanted to make every team I could.''

Fekitoa, who had a serious injury as a child that damaged his hip, was signed by the Auckland union straight out of school and named the player of the tournament at the national sevens in Queenstown when aged just 18.

He was picked by the Blues in 2013 but did not play a minute. With the signings of Benji Marshall and Ma'a Nonu this season, his face did not fit into Blues' plans.

The Highlanders pounced, and both team and player have profited from the connection.

''I think I have developed. From that first Blues game of this season I did not pass a single ball. I ran and tackled but last week I passed the ball more and offloaded. I was making room for the other guys.''

Fekitoa, who qualified through residency for the All Blacks this season, said despite the call-up he was not fitting out his black jersey yet.

''It is just the beginning, the start. Who knows if I will be there? It is a wake-up call to me - for me to work harder. But it is close now. It is an opportunity to get into the team.''

One of 14 children in his family, he said his mother cried after hearing the news and word was getting around his old village.

Uncapped hooker Liam Coltman and backline stars Aaron Smith and Ben Smith were the other Highlanders to make the All Blacks wider squad.