Newly appointed Crusaders coach Rob Penney has to pause to regather himself when asked what it means for him and his family - after a decade plying his trade abroad - to return to a region so close to his heart.
"Now you're going to make me cry," Penney replied.
On Tuesday, the 59-year-old was announced as the successor to All Blacks-bound Scott Robertson on a two-year contract, completing a full circle for the Canterbury stalwart.
Penney played over 100 games at provincial level in the red-and-black jersey, before embarking on his coaching journey as an assistant with the Crusaders in 2005, helping guide them to a Super Rugby title alongside Robbie Deans.
Taking the reins of the NPC side, he guided Canterbury to four consecutive titles between 2008 and 2011, until Munster came calling in 2012 - the first of three stops abroad that has also included Japan (Shining Arcs) and Sydney (Waratahs).
Currently the head coach of the Japan U20 side, Penney - a born and bred Christchurch product - says his imminent homecoming is a golden opportunity for him to both re-lay his roots and contribute to a team he cherishes.
"It is a really special time for me and my family to be coming home and into this Crusaders environment. Unbelievably lucky and blessed to be coming back.
"My time away hasn't dented the passion and vive for the red and black province.
"I love Rugby Park. To come back after 10 or 11 years and share some learnings and re-experience it at this stage of my career is just a great thrill."
Entering an environment that has such the benchmark for Super Rugby success, Penney - understandably - has no intention of trying to reinvent the wheel at a franchise that has won six Super Rugby championships since his departure.
Penney says his focus will be on nurturing simply nurturing the winning climate cultivated by his predecessor and close mate Robertson, who - incidentally - he opened the coaching door for as his assistant in 2008.
"It won't be about causing a wave. It'll be just building on and supporting, and I guess trying to add value to what Razor's done here and established.
"I think the benchmark has always been high. That part of it's got to be maintained and continued and that's one of the wonderful things about the organisation in red and black - their succession planning and consistency is just world class and unmatched in rugby environments."
Robertson's was one of the first congratulatory phone calls he received upon winning the position.
"He was rapt for me, which was lovely," Penney revealed. "It was very humbling for me to get the call from someone that I love and admire in such a way."
Penney suggests a major part of his role will be helping develop the next generation of assistant coaches, who were also announced on Tuesday.
Tamati Ellison, James Marshall, Dan Perrin and Matt Todd will all work with Penney, whose self-proclaimed "limited ego" approach should result in more collaborative coaching effort.
"Hopefully [the assistant coaches] are long term servants of the Crusaders and they can leave their mark as time unfolds.
"Someone like myself really has a limited ego, which I think is valuable in this experience.
"It's definitely not about me. I'll be filtering around in the background and encouraging and nurturing as much as I can, so I'm in a great headspace to be able to do that and excited to be able to do that part of the role."
Penney will join the Crusaders set-up on August 1.
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