Rugby: Girls' game hits top Gear with All Blacks

All Blacks wing Hosea Gear holds the tackle bag as Rowena Tapasu, 13, from Onehunga High School takes part in a surprise training session yesterday. Photo / Richard Robinson

Some of the country's youngest and brightest rugby talents were treated to a special training session with their All Blacks idols during the long weekend.

Several All Blacks made a surprise appearance at a practice session for 30 First XV female rugby players at Onehunga High School yesterday.

Backs Ben Smith and Hosea Gear and forwards Owen Franks and Andrew Hore were among the 10-strong All Blacks contingent who helped put the girls through their paces.

The players are in Auckland preparing for the first of three tests against Ireland on Saturday.

Hooker Andrew Hore said it was great to be supporting girls' rugby.

"There's some real talent out there and with the Olympic programme under way it looks like girls' rugby is on a real high, which is awesome."

The girls who took part in yesterday's training session were a mix of First XV players from several Auckland high schools. Some have also been picked to be part of the New Zealand Rugby Union's Go4Gold Women's Sevens Programme, which is in charge of selecting the players who will represent New Zealand at the 2016 Rio Olympics.