Girls' college Black Ferns fans meet their rugby idols

Tauranga Girls' College rugby players got to rub shoulders with their idols during a special visit from the Black Ferns.

Some of the Black Ferns players visited Tauranga Girls' College on Friday while they were in town for their Game of Three Halves against the Bay of Plenty Volcanix and Auckland Storm.

Players joined rugby playing students for a question and answer session to talk about what it takes to succeed in rugby and life and shared stories about how rugby had shaped their lives.

The players then took to the college field for a skills and drills session with the students.

Rose Togotogorua, 17, said she had been playing rugby for the college for about four years and was excited to meet some of the players she aspired to one day become.

"We got to meet the girls who we look up to," she said. "It is a great opportunity for us because these are the girl versions of the All Blacks."

Togotogorua said she enjoyed hearing from Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili who the teenager shared a similarity with having both come from Fiji.

The 17-year-old said she had grown up around rugby and aspired to be a Black Fern.

"I love rugby... growing up my family has always watched the All Blacks, rugby sevens," she said. "It is an honour to play in the black jersey."

Togotogorua said meeting the Black Ferns gave them motivation for their rugby match in the finals of the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Rugby 2018 Premier Girls first XV next weekend.

"They have given us the motivation to work even harder," she said.

Local Black Fern Lesley Elder said meeting and inspiring young rugby players was one of the highlights of her job.

"One of the privileges of our roles is to get among young girls who are aspiring to be rugby players just like us," she said.