Fifty-two years ago today, retired farmer Brian Johansen lined up for CHB in a rugby game against perhaps the most formidable opposition team to ever visit the district.
On a Tuesday afternoon in Waipukurau on May 11, 1965, CHB played a sub-union fixture against a Napier team containing - on paper, at least - no fewer than six current or soon-to-be All Blacks, including some of the most revered names in New Zealand rugby: Kel Tremain, Bill Davis, Ian McRae, Blair Furlong, Keith Murdoch and Nigel Thimbleby.
Now 78, Brian Johansen said he remembered "bugger all" about the game, which he played as a 27-year-old. It was only 50 years later after seeing the original gameday programme that he realised the quality of the opposition he was up against.
"I'm not sure if there's ever been, or will ever be, a rugby game in CHB with a team featuring so many All Blacks," said Mr Johansen, a retired farmer from Makaretu who played club rugby for Takapau from age 18 to 30 - apart from a season or two when he played for Waipukurau when Takapau couldn't field a team.
Though his normal position was first-five, Mr Johansen is listed in the programme playing at breakaway at No. 9 - back when player's numbers were in opposite order to how they appear today.
Not that he minded. The position switch meant that he got to mark one of his heroes, Napier's captain and Hawke's Bay and All Blacks legend, Kel Tremain.
"He was one of my rugby idols growing up," said Mr Johansen.
Tremain scored a try in the game, but Mr Johansen said he couldn't remember if Tremain out-played him on game day.
"But I am sure he had his fun with me," laughed Mr Johansen, who only knew of two CHB teammates - John Hamilton and Mike Mohi - that were still "kicking around" today.
Though he couldn't remember the exact score in the game, Mr Johansen said there was "only 20 points or so in it".
"I am pleased to say, all I remember is they didn't give us a thrashing," he smiled.
For the record, Napier went on to win the game 38-6, but only led 9-3 at halftime. However, according to HBRU historian Adrian Hill, Napier only fielded four All Blacks that day.
Bill Davis did not play and was instead replaced in the line-up by Russell Exeter, he said, while a young Blair Furlong, listed as a reserve and still only a future All Black at that stage, never took to the field.
Mr Hill said Keith Murdoch, who is generally associated with Otago rugby and became the only All Blacks player to be sent home from an overseas tour for disciplinary reasons in 1972 - played for Napier and Hawke's Bay during that one season in 1965.
He made six appearances for the Magpies, including against Taranaki in an unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge.
"His father died the day before the shield challenge but Keith played anyway and then flew home to Dunedin after the match instead of returning with the team to Napier," said Mr Hill. "He arrived back in Napier to play the last two matches of the year, and in 1966 went to Auckland."
Result:
Napier 38 ( Little (3), Condon, Bishop, Watts, Johnson, Exeter, Tremain tries; Bishop 4 conv, pen goal) CHB 6 (Mohi try; Angus pen goal).