For his son, though, it proved an inspiration.
And so, 16 years after his famous father retired from the sport, Brady Rush is now looking to carry on the family legacy, and even add to it, after earning a full-time professional deal with the All Blacks Sevens.
The 21-year-old was announced on Friday as one of two (along with Moses Leo) new contracted players for 2021, and he’s crediting his old man’s hard-edged training methods for his swift elevation into the national ranks.