With the Waratahs clash at WIN Stadium fresh in the minds of the region's junior players, all the kids could talk about was the moment they met the team's stars on Friday night.

It was an energy Miller had not seen from the youngsters in a long time and he's hoping it propels forward into a successful season.

"All the kids arrived on Sunday and they were telling their stories about Friday night, it was awesome," Miller, the Illawarra Rugby junior representative coaching director, said.

"The Waratahs were great, the whole week they were in the district doing different things.

"We took the kids down for the open training session on Thursday, the players were friendly, talked to the kids, Jed Holloway gave his t-shirt and boots to different kids.

"Then what happened on Friday will stay in my memory and the kids will remember it for a long time. They couldn't stop talking about it on Sunday. It was exactly what we needed at the right time of year to promote rugby."

The youngsters have spent the past five weeks training after the 2020 representative teams were selected in mid-January.

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They will finally have the opportunity to run out for a match on Sunday, the Illawarra boys under 12s to under 16s taking on Central Coast in a trial at Easts Rugby Club.

"We've been training for five weeks, so it's good to have a trial. This will be the first time they play as teams and Central Coast are pretty excited to play as well.

"We used to do it every year, but missed out last year. To do it in Sydney at a first-class rugby club is pretty special."

While the representative players will make the trip to Sydney this Sunday, a host of under 16s players will head south to Batemans Bay next weekend for a Road To Recovery event.

The brainchild of former Wallaby Adrian Skeggs, the Brumbies Runners will face Waratahs A on Friday March 20, before a coaching clinic on the Saturday and an under 16s gala competition on the Sunday.

"We've got the under 16 club teams heading down there for an important event," Miller said. "Ray Morrison, the organiser, is working hard to get the competition organised.

"It's a great initiative, we're making sure all the boys get ready and head down there to support an important cause."

The Illawarra junior rugby season will commence on Sunday March 29, with clubs across the region seeking new players.

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