Youngsters thrilled to kick off night of rugby before Blues play

For rugby-crazed youngsters, stepping on to Auckland's Eden Park to watch a Super 14 game is thrilling, but to actually play the curtain-raiser for one of the big matches is a dream come true.
Today, 19 excited 8-year-old Ruawai players will board a bus to travel to Auckland to play the pre-match to the Blues versus Highlanders game tonight.
The Ruawai team's coach, Phillip Langdon, said the adrenalin was running high and the kids had talked about nothing else but the game as the big day had drawn closer.
"The kids are over the moon. Last night at training, they were saying 'only one more sleep to go'.
"The countdown is on," he laughed.
Another highlight of the day will be watching the Blues players train and the opportunity to get a few autographs from the team's stars, including Ali Williams, Rudi Wulf, Keven Mealamu and Joe Rokocoko.
Mr Langdon said his team had been told about the curtain-raiser about two months ago and, because it was off-season for the JMB (Junior Management Board), the players had needed to get stuck into some early training.
"The game is a big step up for the team," said Mr Langdon, who coached the side last year as midgets (U7s).
"It's the first time tackling, and positional play will be involved, and the players now wear boots.
"Learning to play in positions was a problem at the start - they were used to touch-and-run play over the full paddock, now they are limited to forwards and backs, passing (something they weren't too good on) and tackling."
While a team of 12 was the usual number fielded, Mr Langdon said he was hoping they would be able to sub players on, so that all 19 youngsters got game time on the hallowed turf.
"A few players from Tinopai, Paparoa and Matakohe have swelled the team a little and if we can give everyone a turn on the field that would be great."
The side is captained by Brook Hammerton, and includes Mr Langdon's son, Tyson, while Hayle Cameron is the only girl, and from from all accounts is the fastest player in the side.
A fully packed 40-seater bus, sponsored by the Auckland Rugby Union, leaves Ruawai today at 3pm, followed by an entourage of supporters. The half-hour curtain-raiser will start at 6.30pm, with the main match kicking off at 7.30pm.
On Sunday, a Ruawai Under-11 team leaves for Australia to play in an annual transtasman competition.