The Highlanders have flown to South Africa for their upcoming Super 12 matches in a sad mood after hearing of the death of former coach Gordon Hunter.
Hunter, who was in charge of the first Super 12 Highlanders team in 1996, lost a long battle with cancer on Saturday afternoon, robbing the team he had dubbed "the family" of one of its favourite sons.
Anton Oliver, Taine Randell, Jeff Wilson, Tony Brown and John Blaikie all played for Hunter in the first Highlanders team six years ago, but Kelvin Middleton will perhaps feel the loss hardest because he is married to Hunter's daughter Rachael.
"Rachael's part of the extended Highlanders family, as are Andrea and Jenni (Hunter's other daughter and wife)," Highlanders assistant coach Greg Cooper said. "We're devastated for them and we're feeling it ourselves. It's tough on Kelvin."
Oliver spent many hours with Hunter after he was diagnosed with the disease, and says his former coach was among the most loyal people he had ever met: "It's just so hard to put into words how much I'll miss him," Oliver said.
Hunter coached Otago to famous wins over the Lions in 1993, the Springboks in 1994 and to the NPC grand final in 1992, 1993 and 1995. He was assistant coach of the All Blacks in 1996-97, when the All Blacks were unbeaten in 22 tests.