As Waiheke rugby fans get geared up to watch the Blues spend Auckland Anniversary weekend training on the island, the team’s breakout All Blacks star from 2020 has spoken out about how important these trips are to inspire the next generation of players.
Caleb Clarke’s standout performance during last year’s Bledisloe Cup matches included a rousing standing ovation from the crowd of more than 46,000 at Eden Park after his first start for the test team helped spark a 27-7 victory over Australia.
More than a few Waiheke fans were in the crowd that afternoon to witness the 21-year-old’s coming of age wearing the famed No 11 black jersey of his hero Jonah Lomu and with his All Blacks father Eroni watching on from the stands.
And this Saturday, they’ll be able to get up close and personal with the star winger when he joins the rest of the Blues squad for their open training day at Onetangi Sports Park.
• James Belfield
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