Rugby union has welcomed with open arms its fair share of league defectors.
But volleyball? Now that's a different story.
Growing up in rugby-mad Auckland, Palmer Fou remembers being bagged by his mates for shunning cut-out passes for spiking.
But now that he's a signed-up member of the ACT Brumbies' Academy, his school friends are finally getting their wish.
It has been a rapid rise for Fou, who only played his first game of rugby 18 months ago.
He was spotted by Brumbies scouts starring for Souths in Queensland's Premier Rugby, and was invited down for a trial.
The rest is history.
''At school they said it [volleyball] was a girl's sport, but I didn't really care what anyone thought at the time,'' Fou said.
''One of my best mates brought me over to rugby, and I loved it.
''My speed's good, but the main thing I have to focus on is my defence and tackling technique.''
Fou admits he agonised over his decision to switch sports for five months before choosing rugby.
In his former sport he was good enough to train with the AIS volleyball program, before shoulder problems forced him to reassess.
Brumbies Academy coach Darren Coleman says many observers are shocked when he informs them of Fou's limited rugby background.
Coleman describes the 20-year-old as a ''rough diamond'' who has the raw potential needed to make it at Super 15 level.
''I knew his background when we first started scouting him, but when the other coaches or senior players see him with the ball in hand, it is hard for them to fathom he's only been playing for 18 months,'' Coleman said.
''We got him down to our trials in September, where he excelled, and got him into the Academy on the back of that.
''He's a rough diamond at the moment who has a lot of physical development to do, but he's a special athlete. He's got good speed, is great on his feet, and his ball skills are quite exceptional for someone so new to the game.''