Brumbies winger Andy Muirhead is hopeful his story can inspire a new wave of Rugby players as he prepares to bring up 50 Super Rugby caps.
The 28-year-old's journey is a unique one, with the undersized winger coming through the pathways with little fanfare.
It would take strong stints at Brisbane and Canberra club rugby to catch the eyes of Brumbies selectors, eventually picked on their tour to South Africa and Argentina in 2017.
Since then, he has not looked back, establishing himself as a leader in a world-class Brumbies outfit.
"I've always been told I was too small," Muirhead said to reporters. "It's always been the case, I just know what I excel at and that’s around work rate and those areas. You've just got to know what your strengths are and try and play to them.
"I'm not a big outside back like most wingers these days, so I just do what I can to fit in.
"...I still remember speaking to Dan and him telling me to come (to Canberra) to train. A couple of times I got told I wasn't needed by a couple of people, but I stuck around and was a pest enough that now it's 50 games. I must’ve said the right things to a couple of people and keep getting picked.”
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Coach Dan McKellar, who was the man to convince Muirhead to back the trip south on a training deal with the Brumbies, believes the flying winger's story typifies what makes the sport so special.
"I love players with that sort of story. They've come through club rugby, haven't had the red-carpet treatment," McKellar said.
"He didn't play Australian schoolboys or under-19s, 20s and didn't go straight into an academy program. He did a trade, plugged away at Souths for a number of years and came here to try it for free, pretty much.
“Of the back of that, he got his crack on that South Africa/Argentina Tour in 2017 and now he's a leader within our group. I'm just really proud of him, I hope the boys really lift for him."
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The 84kg Muirhead gives away plenty to most opponents, with Toni Pulu and Manasa Mataele, the two opposite wingers for Sunday's clash against the Force, tipping the scales at 93 and 100 kilograms respectively.
However, he's made a name for himself by focusing on his positives, hopeful his story can inspire fellow 'unconventional' sized Rugby players.
“I definitely think the more we can pave the way for the guys who aren’t conventional Rugby player shape (the better)," he added. "You look at Dam McKenzie, he’s probably smaller than me but he’s one of the best outside backs in the world.
“The more people we can have that aren’t your big rugby players that can still fit in and contribute to a Super Rugby or International side, the better for the smaller fellas coming through the ranks to say ‘maybe genetically I’m not going to be a big guy, if I work hard I can get through a pathway.’”
