New Blues recruit happy to be on bench

Blues players Isaia Toeava (left) and Joe Rokocoko flank Fatai Tutuia, 10, as he tries on his new Blues jersey. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Auckland rugby will have a special player keeping the bench warm this week for the start of the Super 14 season.

Fatai Tutuila, 10, will be an honorary member of the Blues squad when they take on the Hurricanes at North Harbour Stadium on Friday.

At a training session yesterday, Fatai said he was looking forward to Friday's game, but was a little nervous about meeting his rugby idols.

Fatai is the first Mercury Mascot, a programme that gives deserving children a chance to be honorary members of either the Blues, Auckland or North Harbour teams for each game of the 2010 season.

On Friday, Fatai will be in charge of delivering the match ball and get to watch the game from the bench and join the team for a post-match debrief.

Last year Fatai was diagnosed with Burkett's Lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. During his time at Starship he became the hospital's Nintendo Wii rugby champ.

The rugby-mad boy has been playing the sport for five years at the Manukau Rugby Club and hopes to be back playing next year.

Fatai's favourite players, Isaia Toeava and Joe Rokocoko, presented him with a personalised Blues jersey while prop John Afoa made sure Fatai secured autographs from the team.

Toeava said the Blues were looking forward to Fatai joining them, adding: "He'll get a good idea of what it's like to be a Blues player on game day."

His father, Paane, was on hand to share the excitement and received his own jersey. He said Fatai had finished his treatment and the future was "looking good".