Last year may have been a success for University A but, behind the scenes, all was not well within Otago's most famous club.
It could only field one Colts side, and that team was not good enough to even make the top four in its division.
With 20,000 students in the town, the rugby club representing them had just three men's teams and one women's side.
Something must have been wrong, and word round the university was the club was not one to play for.
Otago University has a new chairman and president, and though its premier team, which won the competition last year, has lost some key players for the upcoming season, the new coach of the team, John Hyde, is confident of fielding a competitive side.
Club chairman John Burke, who was elected as part of a new committee at the club's annual general meeting in October, said contrary to a lot of talk around Dunedin the club was not on its knees.
"It is disappointing that the University club did lose its way there for a while. Just a few years ago, maybe five years ago, you could point to our honours board and the reputation of the University club meant that a student wanted to play for the club," Burke said.
"But now different things drive the options for the students on where they would play. We sat on our hands, although many people still worked hard, while clubs like Dunedin and Southern were very successful.
"Well, we are responding to that and will be as proactive as possible."
The club has set up a scholarship scheme for two to three players every year, which is supported - though not financially - by the University.
The club is funding the scholarships, up to $2000 each, and Burke said it was a way to bring promising players from right across New Zealand to the club.
It will also have a barbecue and liquid refreshments at trainings, and switch club trainings to the fields beside the club rooms and the new stadium, attempting to get players back to the clubrooms and in view of the new Forsyth Barr Stadium. A tent had been set up at campus during the orientation week but the battle for young players was fierce.
Schools in Dunedin do not produce rugby players by the dozens like they used to. So students are now the ready source for clubs.
And other clubs are not slow in coming forward with meals and drink on offer to entice them off campus.
University A has lost a significant number of veterans this year with backs Chris Noakes and Andrew Parata and forwards Hoani Matenga, Albie Herron and Sam Hibbard all leaving.
Burke said that was just part of life with being a University club.
"That is the way University has always operated. We'll still have a reasonable team. It will be young but competitive."
He was hopeful of also fielding a premier 2 side, two Colts team and a women's side, but getting coaches was the key to having a strong side. That in itself was not an easy thing.
"Most clubs will tell you the same thing, about the difficulty of getting coaches. And if the team can not get a coach then players drift away. You can't have a team without a coach."
He was confident of getting enough coaches for the teams.
Joining Burke on the committee is former prop and University of Otago associate professor Ken Hodge, who is the new president, Chris Burke (John's son) as secretary, and Stuart McLauchlan as treasurer.
It was all so different 20 years ago. The club had four colts teams, three under-19 sides and two teams in the premier - or senior as it was called then - grade, running out in the light blue jersey.
It had up to three women's sides at one stage but slowly over the past 10 years numbers have dropped away.
That of course can not be blamed solely on the University club. Studying for a degree costs big money these days and courses have restricted entry, so many students opt to curtail their sporting activities to focus on the books.
"Player numbers are hugely down and traditionally clubs like Southern and Dunedin have drawn from their own areas," John Burke said.
"But now they have got students right throughout their teams. They wouldn't have a team if they didn't have students. And I'm fine with that. We don't want every student in the town playing for University.
"There are always going to be people moving to other clubs. Guys who are opinion-makers who move to a club and others follow."
Burke said he would not call the other clubs in town aggressive. They had simply worked hard and he took his hat off to them. They offered incentives and had vans which took the players from campus to their grounds.
"But I do want to make the University club the first-choice club for a student when they came to town. It's logical for a student to just walk five minutes to training."
Otago University
Rugby royalty
• Formed: 1884.
• All Blacks: 44, most recently Adam Thomson (2008-10), James Ryan (2005-06) and Simon Maling (2001-2004).
• Banners: 49.
• Teams: Four (one premier, one premier 2, one colts, one women) last year, down from 12 (two premier, four colts, three under-19, three women) 20 years ago.
