Former pupils Craig Millar, Josh Renton and Michael Collins popped up for a visit in the middle of a frantic week for the Otago rugby team as it prepares for its first Ranfurly Shield defence against Hawkes Bay.
Millar (22) remembers his time in the Otago Boys' First XV in 2007-08 fondly, and credits the school with helping him reach the ITM Cup level.
''It was outstanding. It set a pretty good pathway to come through to the representative ranks,'' Millar said.
''You can't really pick anywhere better.''
Millar is familiar with the territory Otago Boys' ventures into tomorrow. His 2007 First XV reached the South Island final against Nelson College, losing 31-7.
Otago Boys' reached the national final last year, and Millar is keen to see his old school go all the way.
''I'll keep half an eye over them when we're warming up. Hopefully, they can pull it out and go one step more than they did last year.''
Millar described the week since breaking Otago's long shield drought as ''unbelievable''.
''The support has been awesome and it just shows how much pain 56 years can give to a province.
''For the boys to pull out a win like that just shows the hard work the coaches put into us over the whole year.''
First five-eighth Hayden Parker also attended Otago Boys' High School.
The school plays the curtain-raiser at Forsyth Barr Stadium - or ''Tony Brown's Place'' - at 2.20pm.
