Rugby: Bay talent on show against juniors

Greerton Marist lock Troy Callander soaring high at Junior All Blacks training at Blake Park yesterday. Photo/George Novak

The country's finest young rugby players will slog it out with a Chiefs Development side including some familiar faces at Blake Park today.

Bay of Plenty players Joe Royal, Beau Williams, Carl Axtens, Jono Kitto, Elijah Nicholas and Tino Nemani have all been named to start in the Super Rugby champion's development side to play the Junior All Blacks in their final hit-out ahead of next week's IRB Junior World Championship, with Te Aihe Toma, Leroy Van Dam and former Tauranga Boys' College players Mungo Mason and Dan Hollinshead likely to see time off the bench.

The Junior All Blacks were put through their paces at Blake Park yesterday, but considering the global tournament begins on Monday, the coaching staff focused mainly on patterns of phase play, restarts and set pieces.

Prop Tau Kolomatangi, who worked in a pod with Greerton Marist lock Troy Callander during kick-off drills, was typically excited during what was a relaxed training run.

"This is my first time in a national team, it's been pretty good so far," Kolomatangi said.

"We're learning about professionalism and recovery along with all the boys so it's coming out good.

"It's great exposure, especially for some of the younger players here."

The Junior All Blacks team was not available before deadline. Kick-off is at 2pm at Blake Park.