Don't be surprised to see the autograph hunters bowling up to the odd coach during the Junior World Championship.
That's because a good percentage of the coaches and management of the 12 teams have played international rugby themselves and some are top-drawer rugby stars in their own right.
Many ofthe Under 20 players will not have far to go to tap into a deep well of experience.
Five of the head coaches have played test rugby, the most experienced being Alessandro Troncon, Italy's greatest halfback, with 101 caps. New Zealand's opponents tomorrow night, South Africa, are guided by 1996-97 South African loosehead prop Dawie Theron.
Byron Hayward of Wales and Nick Walshe of England played just two tests apiece but are rising up the coaching ranks. Scotland's Sean Lineen is a kilted Kiwi, the son of an All Black, but who played 29 tests for his adopted country as a midfielder.
Fiji's assistant coach is former NZ Sevens rep Iliesa Tanivula, while former All Blacks loosie Mike Brewer is helping Ireland in an unofficial capacity. His son Harrison is one of the midfielders.
France manager Fabien Pelous was one of their great locks and assistant coach Olivier Magne was a quality openside flanker for nearly 100 tests.
Italy's manager, Claudio Appiani, was briefly a wing for the Azzurri from 1976 to 1978.
Greig Oliver is the Ireland assistant coach, but played three tests for Scotland.
Famous coaches
Fabien Pelous (France) 118 tests Alessandro Troncon (Italy) 101 tests Olivier Magne (France) 89 tests Leon MacDonald (New Zealand) 56 tests Mark Taylor (Wales) 52 tests Sean Lineen (Scotland) 29 tests Scott Robertson (New Zealand) 23 tests Fabio Roselli (Italy) 16 tests Dawie Theron (South Africa) 13 tests Claudio Appiani (Italy) 5 tests Greig Oliver (Scotland) 3 tests Byron Hayward (Wales) 2 tests Nick Walshe (England) 2 tests Cameron Blades (Australia) 1 test.
