Adam Hill tried to retire.
The former Otago and Wellington flanker busted up his shoulder while with the Hurricanes and figured it was time.
But he kept showing up for Arrowtown and had his "rubber arm twisted" again this season.
The 33-year-old flanker has been a key contributor during the Bulls’ campaign.
He scored a storming try in the semifinal against Upper Clutha last weekend which effectively sealed it a place in today’s final against Cromwell at Anderson Park.
Cromwell has set a high benchmark. It has been blitzing its opponents and is closing in on 60 tries for the season.
But it only creaked past Arrowtown earlier in the season thanks to a late penalty.
And in last year’s final it was the Bulls who lifted the trophy thanks to a 27-24 win over their rival.
"It is going to be a big old derby," Hill said.
"We are well and truly tagged as the underdogs, but that is sort of fine by us.
"They’ve got some guys that can really put you to the sword and guys like Kane Dodds who can kick it from anywhere this side of halfway.
"We’ll have to be disciplined."
Hill played 14 games for Otago between 2011 and 2012. He then moved north to Wellington where he played 27 games for the province and eight games for the Hurricanes.
"I had a good whack at footy over the years ... but I did a pretty good number on my shoulder [while with the Hurricanes].
"That took a bit to come back from. I was always looking at going back to farming and the opportunity popped up down here."
He manages a cattle station just outside Queenstown.
His wife, Rosie, works as a resource manager and they have two children — son Lockie, who is 18 months old, and four-week old baby daughter Goldie.
And, no, Goldie is not named after a certain Otago and All Black winger. He gets asked that.
After the move south, Hill wanted to get involved with the community and the Arrowtown Rugby Club seemed like a good first step.
"I’ve always tried to be there for them when I can, time willing. The one plus of Covid is the season was relatively compact and meant I didn’t have to be off the farm and away from the kids for too long.
"It was a chance to have another roll of the dice."
