Seasoned watchers of the game believe Luke Braid has a 35-year-old rugby brain trapped in a 19-year-old body.

That old head, perched on developing shoulders, is about to be enriched further with his third overseas foray in as many years representing his country, with New Zealand about to kick off the inaugural IRB under-20 World Cup.

Braid emerged as one of the stars of the New Zealand under-19 team's victorious World Cup campaign last year, though he has no delusions about the under-20s campaign, which starts on Friday in Wales against Tonga.

"It's my third one, but I think it will be the hardest of all," Braid said.

"Looking back, last year seems so easy because we beat teams so convincingly. I had to sit down and really think before remembering the hard parts _ we'd battle with teams for 60 minutes and it would be really close, and we'd only pull away in the last part of the match. That's easy to forget because of the win and the celebrations that followed."

Braid embraces his pedigree _ father Gary and brother Daniel have been All Blacks _ but at the same time is forging his own legacy.

The openside flanker made his first-class debut for the Steamers last year and has already almost two seasons of senior club rugby, winning the Baywide title with Tauranga Sports last year.

With the under-19 and under-21 World Cups absorbed into the under-20 tournament this year, Braid counts himself lucky in many ways and he doesn't expect to waltz into the starting line-up.

"It just goes on how well you go over there _ I wasn't the number one openside going into the under-19s tournament but I ended up as first pick after the first game. It doesn't really matter _ I'm just glad to be there. "My age group is also pretty lucky to get this _ a few of the guys who were going to get another year in the colts were pretty grumpy at missing out on this. We've been lucky to get the last under-19 tournament and the first under-20s tournament and everyone is really excited about that."

Braid is another graduate of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Academy, which continues its startling record of harnessing the province's best young talent.

Before Joe Schmidt and current academy manager Dean Jennings came on board, the union's last New Zealand Colt player was Caleb Ralph in 1997, with Scott Robertson turning out a year before.

Now in the space of two years, there have been four making the under-21 or under-20 equivalent, with Braid joining academy graduates and 2006 colts Lance MacDonald, Matt Wallis and Solomon King.

MacDonald, King, Tanerau Latimer and Jason Hona have also played for the New Zealand sevens team, with King helping the side win the Edinburgh title at the weekend and the overall IRB series crown.

Braid, who will arrive back in early July in time for the Steamers' Air New Zealand Cup buildup, isn't getting ahead of himself, however.

"Our captain Chris Smith has a really good attitude _ he told us to enjoy the rugby while you're over there and enjoy the experience because it might be the last New Zealand team you ever play for."

Australia shape as the favourites for the under-20 tournament, featuring Waratahs Super 14 players Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne, and captained by Western Force flanker David Pocock.

Pocock, 20, has already appeared 25 times for the Perth-based franchise and was a member of the under-19 World Cup-winning team in Dubai in 2006.