It's divided opinion up and down the country, but it's hoped Dan Carter's decision to join the Blues will help drive a new wave of support not only for his new club, but for a game seeking to reinvent itself in New Zealand.
Carter has joined the Auckland franchise as injury cover for the upcoming season of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
But it's expected the presence of the 112-test All Black will have a major impact on the entire competition.
The sight of Dan Carter wearing Blue might take some getting used to for fans and the idea of even playing Super Rugby again is just as strange for the man himself.
"I didn't really think about playing in it," says Carter. "I wasn't really thinking about my rugby future but it's just the way it's happened, to be honest.'
But this is about more than just playing rugby.
The 38-year-old's signature brings with it the sort of hype the revamped competition - and the professional game in New Zealand - desperately needs.
'It's an exciting time for sport, it's an exciting time for rugby here in New Zealand so, as a player, you have the job of going out there and playing exciting rugby."
After just one day with the Blues, Carter's aura has already made an impact on the squad.
"He's our Tom Brady," says coach Leon MacDonald.
An unexpected chance to see a Super Rugby super hero is sure to provide a boost to crowd numbers not just for the Blues, but for all clubs.
"We're pretty lucky….young guys come and they're pinching themselves they don't know whether to go and shake his hand or get an autograph," MacDonald adds.
Chiefs coach Warren Gatland is equally as enthusiastic.
"It's just going to create more interest and I think it's brilliant," Gatland says.
Perhaps the biggest winners are New Zealand Rugby, whose review into the current Super Rugby model has them in a fight to ensure the game can remain both relevant and viable.
Whether he plays every match or just one, Dan Carter's Super Rugby re-emergence may just be what the game has been looking for.
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