Pacific rugby stars ready to shine in Mitre 10 Cup

Although test match rugby plans are still not set in concrete Pacific fans will have plenty to watch out for when New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup provincial competition kicks off this weekend.

Suva-born flyers Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Manasa Mataele square off in tonight's opening clash between North Harbour and Canterbury in Albany, with Tonga sevens star Fine Inisi on the bench for the home side.

They're among a host of current, former and possible Pacific Island internationals sprinkled throughout the 14 teams vying for Championship and Premiership glory over the next three months.

Otago prop George Bower is now a two-time Super Rugby champion but two years ago he was a university student waiting for another opportunity at provincial level.

Born and raised in Lower Hutt to proud Fijian parents, Bower, 28, admits he's taken the long road to rugby prominence but, after winning back to back titles with the Crusaders and an appearance in the North vs South match he's excited to now be one of the senior heads in the Otago squad.

"I have found myself the past two training days talking a bit more than what I'd usually say," he said.

"But I guess when I've been up in the Crusaders environment and coming back to Otago it's kind of like I know this, I should really share this bit of gold with the boys because it's something that they could take.

"If it's one thing from the day that they could take home and add to their game I should say it kind of thing."

Manu Samoa lock Filo Paulo is back in New Zealand and will turn out for Manawatu after eight years plying his trade in Europe.

The 37-test veteran joined Cardiff Blues as an injury replacement after last year's Rugby World Cup but only managed a handful of games before Covid-19 got in the way.

After stints playing in Ireland, Wales, Italy and England before a brief return to Cardiff, the Paulo family have settled in Palmerston North.

"It's been awesome for our family and just refreshing to be back in New Zealand. Just working and then obviously picking this up [with Manawatu] was a pretty big bonus for me," he said.

Born and raised in Wellington, the former North Harbour and Blues second rower is currently living with his wife's parents and had found himself a normal 9-5 job before the Turbos offered him a rugby lifeline.

"I was working up at the youth prison down here in Palmy. We were staying with the in-laws at the moment - my wife's father works up in the army," he said.

"It worked out we could settle here in Palmy and starting to look for a house somewhere around here too because house prices down Wellington are ridiculous at the moment."

A veteran of two Rugby World Cups for the Manu, Paulo, 32, will play alongside international teammate Michael Alaalatoa at Manawatu, who have also recruited young Tongan hooker Siua Maile.

"Especially with a lot of other players coming back from overseas, returning and filling in for the other squads it's going to be a good quality competition this year so it's going to be exciting," he enthused during a brief lunch break from training.

"Our squad has got a good mix of young and old players, old heads, and I'm just excited to get stuck in I guess."

Among the star returnees to the domestic game is former All Blacks captain Kieran Read, who grew up in the Counties region and will make his Mitre 10 Cup debut for the Steelers against defending champions Tasman on Saturday.

"A guy like Reado coming in with his experience - we've got young flankers and number eights that are real eager to learn off him and rub shoulders with him," said Steelers and Manu Samoa halfback Pele Cowley, who himself is back in the red, white and black after a five year absence.

"Having Dals [Papalii] and Neps [Laulala] come back this week to give back to us this weekend and have their contribution this weekend is pretty awesome. Everyone knows what their capabilities are like and it's just rubbing off with the other boys at training."

A Pasifika Super Rugby team has been mooted for South Auckland and, while it hasn't been discussed among the Counties players, Cowley said head coach Tai Lavea has selected a squad that truly reflects the local community.

"That's what he wanted to put in the squad is that community sort of feeling that everyone is locals and he's picking a lot of boys from the club rugby, giving them guys chances," he said.

"I know that hearing a few whispers around the community, I went and grabbed a coffee this morning and guys said straight away they're hanging out for round one because of guys like Reado's coming back to give back to his union that he grew up in - everyone's real excited man around Pukekohe and Counties in general."

The Tasman line-up features four Tongan-born players in the match-day squad, with All Black flanker Shannon Frizell and Crusaders duo Sione Havili and Leicester Fainga'anuku in the starting 15 and new Highlanders signing Fetuli Paea on the bench alongside another Manu Samoa halfback, Dwayne Polataivao.

Meanwhile Hawkes Bay also welcome back a favourite son this season with 'Ikale Tahi legend Sona Taumalolo arriving from France for a final fling with the Magpies at the ripe age of 38.

And it's not just provincial pride on the line, with new Manu Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua and Fiji mentor Vern Cotter both based in New Zealand and sure to have a close eye on any potential Pacific talent over the coming months.