Meet Kane Hames.
First a rugby coach, then a referee.
Now a professional player.
Hames (25), who is one of the new faces in the Highlanders this year, admits he has done his rugby career backwards.
''I sort of fell in love with coaching when I was at school and then registered as a referee a couple of years later. Where I went to school [Te Aute College in Hawkes Bay] you did not have coaches, so you had to do it yourself,'' he said.
His love of coaching blossomed into a career almost straight out of school.
For the past five years he has been a rugby development officer for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, teaching the games to young players, organising Rippa Rugby programmes and running the RugbySmart programme.
All that time, the loosehead prop has been playing club rugby for Tauranga Sports in the Bay of Plenty club competition.
But it was not until last season that he made his first-class debut for the Steamers.
''It is something I have always wanted to do. But I was always told I was too small. But for the past two years I have been doing as much as I possibly can and work as hard as I can.
''And I got a shot last year. But you could say it was luck, as three props in the Bay of Plenty team all went down with injuries.''
Hames, who weighs in at 113kg, said he had sat down with his agent and friend Mike Rogers a couple of years ago to try to decide how to crack the next level in rugby.
''I was a registered referee then and I thought maybe I could do that. But we talked about it and we put a two-year plan together. Just to do what we thought was needed to give myself the best chance to make some progress in the game.
''I did a bit of research and worked as hard as I could. I studied the likes of Owen Franks and Brad Thorn and saw what they did in training. I started lifted more weights. And I did start feeling different.
''I think the two years of consistent training really helped my game.''
Hames made his first-class debut against Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium last August and ended up playing all 10 games for Bay of Plenty in what was a disappointing season for the side.
He was contacted by Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph early in the Bay of Plenty season and his consistency throughout the year led him gaining a contract with the southern franchise.
''I think Jamie [Joseph] had shown some faith in me and I had to believe in myself to put pen to paper.''
He toured with the New Zealand Maori team last year in its trip to North America.
The loosehead prop, who had to resign his job with the Bay of Plenty union after signing with the Highlanders, said he was enjoying his new job in the south.
He had lived a year in Henley as a youngster, turning out for West Taieri, but that was a distant memory.
One thing he is hoping for - like everyone else - is an improvement in the weather.
''I went home for Christmas and the last day before I came back here it was so hot I could hardly sleep. Then the first night I was back here I had to put an extra blanket on, I was so cold.''