Ellery Wilson remembers the day he first put on his rugby boots as a five-year-old running out on to the park in Levin.
The boots were hand-me-downs from his cousins but the Magpie said there was nothing better than owning a pair of boots.
"As a kid there were three awesome days in the year, Christmas, Easter and the day you got a fresh pair of kicks. They just made you feel good out on the field and a part of the team."
Mr Wilson recalled other kids with potential not owning a pair of boots and said it was a real problem.
One guy who played alongside the Magpies halfback at primary school was a "pretty good" player but didn't own a pair of shoes so couldn't play for the Levin Athletic Rugby Club.