For some players, the rise is well-telegraphed given their ITM Cup exploits or the plaudits they garnered as an age-group standout but others just come through via sheer hard work and slip in the back door without fanfare.
Hurricanes lock Mark Abbott fits into the latter category and he will make his Super Rugby debut against the Sharks in Durban tomorrow morning (Sunday, NZT).
The 24-year-old was a regular for Hawke's Bay in his maiden ITM Cup campaign last season and earned a fulltime Hurricanes contract due to Jason Eaton's departure for Japan.
After a spell on the sidelines late last year to have some bone removed from a troublesome big toe that hindered his ability to push in the scrum, Abbott set about making Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett take notice of his progress.
"It was always a question about whether he could do it at this level," Hammett said of his 1.97m second-rower. "He's put on 7kg, he's still as fit as he was when he was 7kg lighter. He's a smart guy, so he's very coachable, so he's made big improvements there."
There's a lack of certainty around a regular partner for All Black Jeremy Thrush in the Hurricanes' second-row given Eaton has left town and James Broadhurst and Mark Reddish have never really made the position their own.
That has paved the road for Abbott to claim a starting opportunity this week.
He grew up in Canterbury but given the glut of talent in Crusaders country he was forced to look elsewhere and when Hawke's Bay coach Craig Philpott, who is a transplanted Cantabrian, offered Abbott a chance with the Magpies last year, he didn't hesitate - he had to earn it though.
"I had to go up there and basically prove myself through the club season to make the squad," Abbott said. "So obviously I did that and then I played ITM Cup and I was lucky enough to get selected here so it's all kind of worked out for me."
Now Abbott will be playing in a hot-and-heavy Durban this weekend where the humidity could make for a laboured and bruising encounter, which will suit the home side given their forward pack is full of grunt with names like Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts and Bismarck du Plessis jumping off the team sheet.
That anticipated physical battle was one of the main reasons behind Hammett not selecting tearaway loose forward Ardie Savea in the Hurricanes' matchday squad as he preferred the versatility of wider training group member Adam Hill who finds himself on the bench.
Hammett also anticipated a kicking-orientated approach from the Sharks, who are one of the early-season title favourites, with the likes of first-five Patrick Lambie and superboot Francois Steyn in the No 12 jersey.
A potential game of forceback has helped Tasman utility Marty Banks earn selection at fullback for the Hurricanes with his strong punting ability likely to be a useful tool at Kings Park.
Abbott is one of four Hurricanes who could make their Super Rugby debut tomorrow alongside Banks, Hill and reserve prop Chris Eves.
The Hurricanes have been shorn of Victor Vito, Brad Shields, Tim Bateman, Matt Proctor and Reg Goodes through injuries picked up in the pre-season.
Hurricanes: Marty Banks, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (captain), Hadleigh Parkes, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Mark Abbott, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Ben Franks. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, Mark Reddish, Adam Hill, Chris Smylie, Alapati Leiua, James Marshall.
Sharks: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod, Heimar Williams, S'bura Sithole.
