Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has taken to a school handball court this week to prove his status as 'handball champ' still stands.
The self-proclaimed champion of the southern hemisphere hit the squares showing off his skills at Kelvin Grove State College in Brisbane's inner-north.
Students from the school had been championing him to take them on at the popular schoolyard game for years.
Head of senior schooling Duncan Steel said the year 12 students started their campaign to get Mr Rudd on the court three years ago.
"The year 12s when they were in our middle school wanted him to come out, but at the time he was busy," he said.
"They got back onto his Facebook page and asked him if he could play, since it was their last year."
Mr Rudd replied, saying he had a 30-minute window for the students, but Mr Steel said they did wonder if he would turn up.
"He came though and certainly tried to rule the court," he said.
So how good are Kevin Rudd's handball skills?
Mr Steel said Mr Rudd's competitive streak came out on the handball court.
"To be quite honest, the kids were so excited that he was there that I think they were a bit lenient on him at times," Mr Steel said.
"He's pretty competitive and he's pretty good on the handball court."
The students took turns at playing the former PM, but Mr Rudd did not move throughout the court.
"He wouldn't shift from the top square of the handball court," Mr Steel told ABC Radio Brisbane's Craig Zonca.
"No one was going to argue with him."
Scoring points off former PM
Mr Steel also took to the squares in the hopes of winning a point or two over Mr Rudd.
"The students were keen for me to go and have a hit with them, so I did take one of the squares, but I didn't want to hog it for too long," he said.
"I might have scored a point off him."
Mr Steel said the game would have a lasting effect on the students.
"It was a really nice thing for him to come and do for the year 12 students," he said.
"They can't stop talking about it and they even put it in their end of year video."
