He is the lowest-profile member of the Highlanders camp and Peter Sinclair likes that just fine.
The genial Sinclair was a reluctant interview subject. It is nearly eight years since he first featured in the Otago Daily Times when, as a part-time sports psychologist working with the Highlanders, an infamous photo of the ‘‘top two inches'' of his head ran with his profile story.
He is now full-time with the Highlanders and Otago rugby, with sports psychology playing a secondary role to his work as professional development manager.
Each New Zealand franchise has someone like him. His job? Well, it's a mixed bag. He's a counsellor, a career adviser, a friend and a teacher wrapped into one.
‘‘What we basically have been asked to do is provide the players with assistance to focus on being the best they can be to be prepared for life when rugby finishes'', Sinclair said.
‘‘And that's an exciting challenge".
The collective agreement stipulates all Super 14 players in New Zealand must spend at least half a day a week in the area of professional development.
Sinclair helps each player draw up a plan, focusing on their needs or wants in areas of education or work experience, or even things as simple as financial planning. He arranges for the appropriate advice to be received, works through study schedules and liaises with employers to set up regular work experience time.
Sinclair knows the perception of professional rugby players is that they get paid well to do nothing but rugby. But the scheme he runs, even for just half a day a week, proves the reality is different.
One of the Highlanders has expressed an interest in media presentation skills, so he is about to spend some time at Dunedin television station Channel 9.
Another, who owns a small property, wants to learn the basics of butchery, so he is being lined up a spot at a local meat outlet.
Several players have commenced building apprenticeships. Others attend university lectures around their busy week of training, playing and travelling.
‘‘Basically, we're making sure they've identified a career path that they are comfortable with,'' Sinclair said".
‘‘They've all got to have a direction in which they're heading, because they're all aware of the relative brevity of the average professional rugby career. It's only an injury away, in some cases. ‘‘But it's not just life after rugby. We're trying to make sure they are prepared the very best they can be so they can deliver on the paddock.''
Sinclair, much like everyone else remotely connected to the Highlanders, does not particularly enjoy being bottom of the Super 14.
But he's been impressed with the levels of motivation among the players and has found them all a pleasure to work with.
Sinclair is a proud Southlander - the rolled R's and the Stags posters in his office at Logan Park give him away, as does his description of alma mater Southland Boys as ‘‘the best school in the country''.
He was a primary school teacher before working in the psychological service in the Education Department in Invercargill, dealing with children and families in the areas of learning and behaviour.
After 18 years at the Dunedin College of Education, by which stage he had progressed to the role of director of primary education, he replaced Alex McKenzie in the full-time Highlanders role.
Sinclair said working with aspiring teachers and young rugby players was not vastly different.
‘‘There are actually many similarities. They are two groups of very highly motivated young people, and that's a great group to be working with.
‘‘What is interesting about the rugby group is that they are here only at the whim of selection. It's a bit of a cut-throat business professional rugby.''
Sinclair played club rugby, as a lock or prop, for Waikiwi and Ohai-Nightcaps.
Now, when he's not improving the life skills of the Highlanders, you're more likely to find him pottering in his garden.
