At the Cobb & Co stall, Bay of Plenty Steamers players were handing out cobb crunchies and challenging children to PlayStation battles. Connor Aitu, 8, took up the controller against Steamers hooker Joe Royal and said it was a lot of fun.
"I'm a big fan of rugby so I think I can beat him," Connor said.
He felt starstruck when he met the rugby players because they were his local idols.
Cobb Group chief executive Chris Churchward said the restaurant franchise was the biggest sponsor of the Steamers.
"It's great to see the team members getting involved with the local kids and drawing in big crowds.
"All the team members here today are local Rotorua boys so they connect well with the people they meet and are getting a lot of positive feedback from people walking past."
Cobb Group and the Bay of Plenty Steamers had a competition running to give away a $200 Cobb & Co voucher and a Steamers jersey.
The Rotorua Daily Post Home and Leisure Show is open at the Energy Events Centre today and tomorrow, from 10am to 5pm today and 10am to 4pm tomorrow.