It is common knowledge that, in any sport, the future is only as bright as the players coming through at junior level and it appears the future of Bay of Plenty rugby is in safe hands.
All the teams played with structure and attacking flair well beyond their years.
They were clearly well drilled and had been training hard, but not to the point where their creativity and X-factor were dulled. Some of the tries I saw scored at the weekend were jaw-dropping.
The standouts were obviously Te Puke, who won the tournament for the second year running. They finished the tournament unbeaten, scoring 400 points and conceding just 24 along the way.
Most Kiwi kids are born within arm's reach of a rugby ball, so the fact that these Years 7 and 8 players have fantastic skills should be no surprise.
What impressed me most was the rugby IQ of the majority of the Te Puke players - the backline moves, the lines they run, their work at the breakdown, their ability to take the right option in a two-on-one situation.
These are all things that many senior coaches are still trying to drill into their players, so to see it at such a young age is truly exciting.
Perhaps one day we will see some these boys pulling on an All Blacks jersey and we can reminisce about where it all started.
Over the ditch and afar
On a global scale we have a big week of sport coming up.
Tomorrow night, Queensland and New South Wales do battle in State of Origin III. Having already won the series, the Blues have the opportunity to achieve a very rare clean sweep.
State of Origin is my favourite sporting event of the year and I often find myself wondering why.
As New Zealanders, we have no geographical ties to a series between two Australian states, but that does not stop us picking a side and getting right into the banter.
My theory is it's the way the Australia markets the game. In a world of political correctness, State of Origin is one of few sporting events where the players are still actively encouraged to hate each other.
During the previews for each game they look at the history of the series, the personal rivalries and highlights - they really hype it up and I can't help but be absorbed.
Tomorrow's game is also the last in a maroon jersey for Queensland legend Billy Slater, arguably the greatest fullback to grace a rugby league field, who has announced his retirement.
The scene is certainly set for another thriller.
Further afield, we are into the semifinals of the Football World Cup in which Belgium play France and England play Sweden.
I'm picking Belgium and England to be the winners, which would make a great final, but the way this world cup has been it could just as easily be France and Sweden that go through.
