Napier students meet rugby idols

Tamatea High School student Tipene Douglas, former All Black Justin Marshall, Taradale High School's Heath Miller and former Lions player Lee Byrne yesterday. Photo/Stephen Parker

160617sp1.JPG RUGBY IDOLS: Tamatea High School student Tipene Douglas, former All Black Justin Marshall, Taradale High School student Heath Miller and former Lions player Lee Byrne at the ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience yesterday. Photo/Stephen Parker

Two Napier students got to meet some of their rugby idols during a leadership experience yesterday.

Year 13 students Tipene Douglas, from Tamatea High School, and Taradale High School's Heath Miller were among 50 students around the country chosen to participate in the ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience.

The pair spent yesterday in Rotorua with two others at a leadership breakfast with former All Blacks and attended a pre-match captain's run ahead of the Lions match against the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium tonight.

Tipene said he had been waiting eagerly for the day since he had the surprise announcement to say he had been chosen a few weeks ago

"It was good, I really liked all of it."

His favourite part of the day was the captain's run where he met and had photos with his idols Maori All Blacks Nehe Milner-Skudder and Damian McKenzie.

The 17-year-old has played rugby since he was 5 years old and hopes to continue by playing for a club when he goes to EIT to study carpentry next year.

He has watched all the British and Irish Lions games so far and plans to watch the rest, he said.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students included attending a pre-match captain's run, a first aid course and a leadership breakfast with former All Blacks, as well as an adidas All Blacks gear pack.

An ASB spokesperson said three Maori All Black players, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Ash Dixon and Ben May joined the four students during their St John course.

"We surprised the young leaders with a meet and greet this morning, the students were delighted."

To celebrate ASB's sponsorship of the 2017 DHL New Zealand Lions Series, the ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience recognised 50 male and female students who displayed leadership qualities in their schools and showed promise in rugby.

Experiences were available in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Whangarei, Dunedin and Rotorua.