The first time Adam Thomson played sevens for New Zealand, little more than a year later he was an All Black.
So Thomson hopes it is second time lucky when he turns his hand to the shorter version of the game at the Commonwealth Games next month.
Thomson makes no secret of the desire he has to get back into the national side. To be part of the All Blacks is the major reason he is still playing rugby in New Zealand.
He was told by the All Black selectors earlier in the year to change his game - become more of a runner and link man, and get involved more in the play.
And what better platform for that than the game of sevens where it is all about getting the ball, finding the space and scoring points.
"I think last time I was in the Highlanders [in 2007] and I wasn't getting game time. But then Titch [coach Gordon Tietjens] gave me a bit of a boost.
Got my skills up and gave me a bit of confidence and it was a really good opportunity to push on from there," he said.
"Sevens is that sort of game where you're always involved - if you miss a tackle then it can be all over. It's a really good test of your game."
Thomson, along with Otago team-mate Ben Smith, has been doing extra training in preparation for the Games.
He is going to be part of a team with a pretty tough record to live up to, as New Zealand has not lost a game since it was introduced in 1998.
"It is a pretty unique opportunity for a rugby player. Winning a gold medal is pretty special. Then you've got all the other sports there which will be something new, something fresh. It is something to really look forward to and freshen me up for next year."
The side will travel to Dubai for a training camp later this month, before heading to Delhi.
The duo will miss Otago's games against Canterbury, Waikato and Auckland. Thomson (28) though first has to navigate a couple of games for Otago, starting with Northland on Sunday, his 50th game in the Otago jersey.
His first match was against Waikato at Carisbrook in 2004.
"We lost. I can remember that. I had to come in for Josh Blackie, and the game was a lot faster and that was the calibre of game that was expected at that level."
No-one he played with on that day is still with Otago and, reflecting on his previous 49 games, he admits it has been a roller coaster.
"It hasn't been an easy road. There has been lots of ups and downs and it's been character building."
Asked for highlights for Otago, he said wins over Canterbury were precious as were many off-field moments when you made friends.
"I've considered other options and had offers ... originally I came down here to study with a group of good friends and after four years they graduated and went away and got jobs. So I had that real transition period when they'd gone.
"But I'm happy I've stayed down here. I've made some good friends down here with rugby. Jamie and Nibs [Highlanders coaches Jamie Joseph and Simon Culhane] have shown the way forward."
And as for what happened last Sunday when Otago won a very ugly game against Tasman, Thomson said it was just one of those days.
"We just didn't start well and that sort of set the standard for the rest of the day. But at least we won.
"We've been on the wrong end of plenty of those sort of close games so that showed we can win them."
