At just 20 years of age Rudi Wulf was already in the Blues squad, New Zealand Sevens and Colts teams when a freak swimming pool accident left him with a fractured vertebrae in his neck.
But his determination drove him to persevere and after 11 months on the sidelines he made a full recovery to become one of the most dangerous attacking wingers in New Zealand Rugby.
In 2008 he was selected in the All Blacks and went on to earn four test caps.
Wulf fractured his wrist during a pre-season match for the Blues in 2009 and was ruled out for the first eight rounds of the competition, but he bounced back and was awarded the 2009 Blues Player of the Year alongside Keven Mealamu.
After yet another outstanding year for the Blues in 2010, Wulf signed for French club Toulon at the end of the season, but he returned home to play for North Harbour in 2011and it is great to see him back at the Blues in 2012.