Eleven years ago a Queen Elizabeth College Year 10 student called Nehe Milner-Skudder marvelled at the skills of The British & Irish Lions wing Jason Robinson.
Milner-Skudder couldn't get to the match at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North, but as he watched Robinson run in four tries against the Turbos he was struck by the footwork, flair and pace of the Lions stocky wing.
"I remember 2005 really vividly when the Lions toured here and watching them put a pretty big score on Manawatu in that midweek game," Milner-Skudder told www.hurricanes.co.nz after announcing he would not be attempting a return from his shoulder injury this year.
"Jason Robinson was a little nippy fella and I sort of modelled my game on him. He dotted down four times that night."
But it wasn't just Robinson that stuck in the Hurricanes star back's mind and ever since he has held a desire to one day be a part of what he believes is one of world rugby's greatest and most vibrant traditions.
"I think they put a hundy on Manawatu that night (it was in fact 109-6) and Robinson was just carving up, but also the fans, the Barmy Army got pretty rowdy and the atmosphere just looked amazing. The way they support their teams over in the Northern Hemisphere they will bring that down here and I guess us Kiwis get a chance to be a part of that, which is cool."
And Milner-Skudder hopes he will be a part of it too whether it's with the Hurricanes, the Maori All Blacks, or the All Blacks.
Hurricanes fans can make sure they're part of the action by buying a membership before lunchtime Friday (October 7), a purchase that will give them a unique ID code to buy tickets to the Hurricanes versus The British & Irish Lions match at Westpac Stadium on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. That unique code will only be active through until Saturday (October 8) at 5pm.
"I remember back to the last tour they had in 2013 in Aussie, they did the same thing where they played all the Super Rugby clubs and I think the Brumbies were the only ones who got up and beat them aside from the Wallabies in the second test," Milner-Skudder said.
"It's going to be awesome that we get to do that in New Zealand and for Wellington's Westpac Stadium to host two games, the midweek match and the All Blacks also playing, that's huge.
"We really appreciated the support we got from Hurricanes members and fans over the last few years and we know that will be the same in 2017.
"No doubt the stadium will be full and people will get the opportunity to enjoy not only the quality players they bring over, but also the home town talent we have on show."
For Milner-Skudder his part in next year's tour will depend on his form and fitness for the Hurricanes after he decided not to risk his now almost fully recovered shoulder in the final rounds of this year's Mitre 10 Cup competition.
"I'm gutted that I'm not going to be playing again this year, but there is a bigger picture with a lot happening next year and in particular The British & Irish Lions.
"Their team will be full of class with the best players from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, so there is going to be some great matches and hopefully the Hurricanes can do what the Brumbies did five years ago in Australia and tip them up in the midweek game."
Milner-Skudder's depth of knowledge around The British & Irish Lions is an example of how much the tour means to New Zealand players.
"They only come down here every 12 years and the first time they came down here was in 1888 so there is more than 120 years of history right there," Milner-Skudder said.
"The fact of how well the northern hemisphere teams are going right now and to pick the best of the best and put them in one team will make for an exciting series, not only the tests, but the midweek matches and the New Zealand Maori having a crack as well.
"I remember Dan Carter carving up in the Cake Tin in 2005, he just killed it. I guess everyone will be excited to see who will be the next superstar who makes a name for himself during that tour. It's going to be awesome to watch."