CATCH: Ball boys for Rugby World Cup matches brothers BJ (left) and Sam Grouby are huge rugby fans, as can be seen from Sam's All Black-inspired bedroom. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKERBJ and Sam Grouby are reaping the rewards of their parents' volunteer work - the pair are to be ball boys for the three Rotorua Rugby World Cup matches.
There are 10 ball boys for the games and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union decided to divide the roles between the sub-unions, rewarding parents who play a part in community rugby.
The Groubys' dad, Barry, has been president of Kahukura's JAB rugby for the past four years. BJ, 15, didn't play rugby this season, instead coaching the under-8s while Sam, 13, played for the under-13s.
The pair have been ball boys for Bay of Plenty Steamers matches but both agree this tournament will be something special.
"I'm looking forward to the thrill of it, experiencing the atmosphere," BJ said.
"We were going to go to one game anyway but then we found out we were going to be ball boys. We've a tiny bit of experience with the Steamers but there will be way more people and we will have to be more professional."
The boys have been kitted out in match-day uniforms and been given training on their role.
"We can't pass or kick the ball," Sam said. "And we're allocated a section of the field. We also can't look at the crowd but we get to be close to the World Cup players."
Mr Grouby said it was a nice reward for the volunteer work that parents put into the sport.
"Being acknowledged like this is awesome, it's a buzz for us as much as for them," he said.
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union rugby administrator for schools Nichola Edwards said she wanted to make sure the whole region was represented.
"I asked people who they considered someone who had put a lot of work into community rugby," she said.
"Sometimes kids think because they're the best players they should get it but we wanted to give the parents the reward. They're all people known to the union because they put a lot of volunteer work in."
There are 10 in total with two from the Eastern Bay of Plenty and six from the Western Bay of Plenty. Only eight can be on the field at once and she said the Groubys would be stood down for the Samoa v Namibia game.
