Scott Robertson spent most of his early years kicking a rugby ball around Blake Park with his mates.
He played for the Mount Maunganui club from kids' footy with barefeet through to senior rugby under coach Sir Gordon Tietjens, before his career took him away to Canterbury and 23 tests with the All Blacks.
Yesterday, the 39-year-old was back at Blake Park as forwards coach of the NZ Under-20 team based in Mount Maunganui for nine days.
Robertson says it is great to be back at his old stomping ground.
"I grew up in Campbell Rd so I shared my time between Blake Park and Tay St [surfing], and I have said I probably spent more time down at this park than any other kid," Robertson said.