Rugby players from three Bay of Plenty secondary schools were given an opportunity to get up close to the glittering gold Rugby World Cup.

As a thank you to young local rugby players, the Webb Ellis Cup – also known as ‘Bill' to his friends – visited Whakatane High School, Trident College and Papamoa College today.

The Webb Ellis Trophy was taken to three Bay of Plenty secondary schools today. Photo: Fairfax NZ

The cup was meant also meant to be shown off at Tauranga Boys' College but the visit was cancelled after the trophy and its handlers got stuck in traffic congestion caused by the weather.

NZ Rugby's Community and Provincial general manager Brent Anderson says they want to share the cup with communities all over the country.

'The local visits were part of a drive to sign up teenagers for rugby around New Zealand. It's about saying thanks for playing rugby and to give players an opportunity to get up close with the ultimate rugby prize.”

Brent believes rugby provides young people with important skills that can set them up for life.

It's a great way to keep fit and have fun with your mates, but more than that, children learn about commitment, accountability to others and about becoming part of a community, he says.

'Teenagers tell us what they love about playing rugby is the time they get to spend with their mates, away from teachers and parents and being independent and just being themselves.

'Those friendships cemented on the rugby field are often lifelong – speaking from personal experience.”

With some 42,072 teenagers signed up for rugby in 2015, Brent says having more teenagers was a particular focus for NZ Rugby.

This year NZ Rugby is challenging high schools to sign up one more than team, says Brent.

'Often schools don't have quite enough players to make up an extra team so they share them around existing teams giving everyone less game time.

'With a bit of extra effort we hope to encourage enough kids to make another team. The schools who achieve it will win a special rugby prize pack and go in the draw to win a visit from the All Blacks.

'Sonny Bill Williams is our Ambassador for Teenage Rugby and he'll be visiting schools this year and we even have a TV show just for teenagers – Random Rugby TV,” says Brent.