You will not get far suggesting Hugh Renton is not a son of the South.
The strapping loose forward was born in Hastings, served as head boy at Lindisfarne College, made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes, and has played for his native Hawke's Bay and Tasman.
But there is Highlanders blood, literally, in Renton's veins.
The new co-captain is a great-great grandson of former Dunedin Mayor and Mosgiel Woollen Factory founder Sir John Roberts, and Charles Kettle, who surveyed the city of Dunedin, and was later a Member of Parliament, is also in the family tree.
"That's a pretty cool connection, and it's nice to have that family tie in history," Renton told the Otago Daily Times.
"Before I came down to Dunedin in 2021, I was talking to my grandma, and she told me all about it, and I confirmed it through Ancestry.com
"I love it here.
"It's such a cool place, and full of people with solid values."
Renton, 28, was actually only an injury replacement for the Highlanders when he headed south, but made such an impact he demanded a full contract for the rest of that first season and beyond.
Dunedin represented an opportunity to reignite his rugby career after a period of personal adversity.
Renton had a spell with a paralysed arm during his school days, he was left hanging when he was not re-signed by the Hurricanes, and he was dealing with a family tragedy.
His father, Paul Renton, died by suicide in 2017.
The former Hawke's Bay farmer of the year _ who had a long rugby career with Mid Canterbury and Hawke's Bay, and was a Junior All Black and man of the match in an All Blacks trial _ bore a striking resemblance to his son.
"I speak openly about Dad," Hugh Renton said.
"It was just a crazy time of life, and it's really hard when you lose a parent and people in your life.
"I asked Mum if I could move down south to pursue rugby and study, and she gave me her blessing."
Renton's mother, Marie, continues to run the family farm at Maraekakaho where she worked alongside her husband before he died.
"She's just a very impressive lady in the face of adversity."
He might initially have been a ring-in but Renton, who had a breakout season in 2023 and was flying last year before getting injured, has become one of the first names on the Highlanders' team sheet.
Now he finds himself elevated to the co-captaincy, alongside former Tasman team-mate Timoci Tavatavanawai, under returning coach Jamie Joseph.
"I'm really grateful to get the opportunity alongside Timoci to lead the boys.
"Jamie's pretty clear in what he sets out for the team and the direction he wants to go, so obviously I'm on board with that.
"It's exciting and a privilege to join in and get into some footy."
Renton said he had some captaincy experience at secondary school and age group level, and had been in a leadership group at Tasman.
He appreciated the role was important and felt he was primed to lead from the front and set the standard alongside the blockbusting winger.
"I was telling someone the other day, I think the first time I played against Jim [Tavatavanawai] was 2018. He played Canterbury B and I played Tasman B.
"I remember he ran a normal line and I hit him and he kind of bounced off and I was like, jeepers, this guy's built something different.
"And then fast forward two years and he's dominating NPC and then we're together in Tasman and watching him grow, and here we are now.
"We're definitely on the same page in terms of communication and chatting, sort of pre-training, post-training, the way the weeks are set up. And then on the field, also aligned as well.
"I think firstly you have to nail your key role and Jim does that outstandingly with leading from the front and his carries and everything. And I aim to do that as well through my role on the field.
"Jim's got a very good understanding of the energy of the group, I think.
"He understands and has a good feeling of what the group is feeling. And that's massive for any player or leader ... to understand what the group's feeling and then lead from that."
Even the cynics would agree the Highlanders are tracking in a positive direction.
They have encouraged championship-winning coach Joseph to return, they are tonight officially unveiling their redeveloped facilities (more on that in tomorrow's ODT), and they have brought a billionaire into the ownership group.
On the field, they went from four wins in 2022 to five in 2023 and six in 2024.
What Renton, Joseph and pretty much everyone at HQ want to see now is progression to a point where the Highlanders can really challenge the elite Super Rugby teams, and Renton feels the signs are positive.
"I definitely expect that we're going to be a joined unit that wants to not just upset teams but consistently perform each week and win each week.
"Everyone knows what we're trying to do as a group and is on the same page.
"That sounds like common sense but actually getting ... the whole group on the same page, executing their role, nailing the same thing.
"If we can do that then I know that we'll do well and not just upset teams or win that odd game but actually consistently perform each week and hopefully inspire our fans and continue to grow the legend that is Highlanders."
Newcomers to the squad had settled in well and embraced the concept of Dunedin being an exciting opportunity to get noticed, Renton said.
He was feeling healthy and happy following his post-injury NPC comeback.
Being a co-captain does not guarantee a starting jersey, and Renton has a decent No8 battle on his hands with
Nikora Broughton, who made pleasing progress with the Highlanders last year before having a fine NPC season.
"In any position, in any New Zealand side, you're always competing with best of the best, and that's professional sport, you want it to be like that.
"Nikora did outstandingly well in the No8 jersey last year and for Bay of Plenty.
"He's had a really great preseason as well.
"Not just Nikora but all the boys in the loose forwards have been showing their stripes and going really well.
"There's definitely a challenge but that challenge brings the best out of everyone.
"It's a good motivator to continue to try to get better, and I'm always looking forward to that challenge."
The Highlanders will name a team this afternoon for their second and final preseason game, against the Crusaders, in Invercargill on Thursday.
