It has been a decade since midfielder Tim Bateman first played for the Crusaders, though he still has the enthusiasm of a rookie.
Bateman returned for Canterbury during the Mitre 10 Cup season and his form was rewarded with a call up to the Maori All Blacks for their Northern Tour. Before that, the 29-year-old had stints in Japan and Wellington.
It had been tough for the Bateman family to leave New Zealand after the move overseas, which was not so much about rugby as gaining better medical treatment for his wife, Laura.
A few years ago Laura was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She has since had stem cell surgery in Singapore.
While that continues to be massive for the Bateman family off the field, there's a reunion of sorts going on for Bateman at the Crusaders.
Former All Black Leon MacDonald was one of Bateman's teammates during his first stint at the Crusaders and now he's the assistant backs coach.
"When I played with him he was the young pup and now he's the old man, so time catches up with all of us doesn't it?" said MacDonald.
Both Macdonald and Bateman were in the side that won the Crusades last title in 2008 and both hope to lead the Crusaders to victory in 2017.
Newshub.
