Gatland drop goal secures Highlanders thrilling win over Chiefs despite two yellow cards

Rugby returned with a fairytale in Dunedin in front of 19,100 rugby-starved fans last night.

Highlander's Bryn Gatland, son of Chiefs coach Warren, landed a stunning drop-goal with minutes left on the clock to give the Highlanders a famous 28-27 win that looked beyond them in a nail-biting final quarter.

Gatland, a late replacement on the bench for the injured Josh Ioane, was the coolest man in Dunedin as he nailed the three-pointer that will break his father's heart, but also make him quietly proud.

The Highlanders had Vilimoni Koroi and Jona Nareki sent to the sin bin.

The Highlanders tries were scored by Ash Dixon, Sio Tomkinson, Marino Mikaele Tu'u while Sean Wainui and Anton Lienert-Brown scored for the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, the Blues will face the Hurricanes at 3.35 pm today.