A pair of Napier high school players are about to be part of New Zealand rugby history.
Tipene Douglas, from Tamatea High School, and Taradale High School's Heath Miller are two of only 50 students from around the country to be chosen to participate in the ASB Young Leaders Rugby Experience.
ASB, one of the sponsors of the 2017 DHL New Zealand Lions Series, made the experience available for students in each region hosting a series match. Tipene and Heath, both 17 and in Year 13, will be in Rotorua on Friday, June 16, the day before the Lions meet the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium.
Their agenda for the day includes attending a pre-match captain's run and a leadership breakfast with former All Blacks, as well as an Adidas All Blacks gear pack.
"It was a surprise," Tipene said on Wednesday after being called to the stage during a school assembly by former Tamatea High student Lisa Papuni, who now works as a Lower North Island school account manager for ASB.