Southland Boys' High School has pulled off one of the great fairytale stories to come from our winter codes, up and down the country.
The school's First XV won the national rugby title at the weekend with a team made up of some of their region's best — including links to the All Blacks.
But their come-from-behind 32-29 triumph against first-time finalists Westlake Boys at Palmerston North on Sunday was still a stunner — even for their coach Jason Dermody.
Dermody was asked by 1News if he dreamt the team had a national title in them and, perhaps brutally honestly, he said: "Simple answer, no."
"This doesn't happen to Southland Boys' High School."
The squad of self-confessed battlers pipped Palmerston North Boys' High School 20-19 in the semis for their shot at the crown and in the final they made history, winning their school's first-ever national rugby title in its more than 100-year history.
There's even been talks of a ticker-tape parade in Invercargill to mark the occasion that means so much to so many, including former All Black and Southland great Leicester Rutledge.
"When an old fella at 71 starts crying and tears rolling out of my eyes, that is how I felt," Rutledge said.
Southland Boys' First XV simply defied the status quo for New Zealand schoolboy rugby with no import players in their ranks.
In fact, most come from farming backgrounds.
"[We're a] country team, kind of," fullback Jimmy Taylor said.
"We got called hillbillies [but that was] just fuelling us."
That fuel was then channelled into a meaningful direction, captain Gregor Rutledge added.
"Our coaches just love the game they teach at the school and then they come and coach us after school," he said.
"It's very special."
It's even more special when you meet the names featured in it.
There's coach Peter Skelt who has been part of the team for 38 years as well as coach Dermody, brother of current Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody. Then in the playing group there's Captain Rutledge and the Muliaina brothers.
While the surnames are well recognised in Kiwi rugby circles, Rutledge senior said they forged the beginnings of their own legacies on Sunday.
"They just didn't give up and that's what Southland spirit is all about — you don't give up."
No one epitomises that more than the nephew of Mils Muliana, Rico, who just last year was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"I always wanted to be back," he said.
"The goal at the start of the year was to make top four, but winning this was extras on top."
And teammate Thomas Spain said there's plenty more to come.
"We're going again next year — that's ours next year as well!"
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