Former All Black loose forward Dylan Mika has emerged as a possible candidate for the Bay of Plenty team this year.
Mika, 32, turned up to train with the side this week.
"I'm attending training at the moment to see whether I get that competitive bug back in me," he said.
Mika finished
a three-year playing contract in Japan in April.
He initially returned with no intention of playing rugby, let alone for Bay of Plenty, but his interest was raised by former team-mate Adrian Cashmore, who is to play again for the province after returning from Japan.
"He was the one who initially put it to me to come down here. Adrian and I have played schoolboy rugby together and come through Auckland together," said Mika, who has started work for a hospitality company.
"I told him I wasn't interested and was going to concentrate on working, but as things are panning out, there might be a chance of something coming out of it."
Mika played 55 games for Auckland and 23 Super 12 games for the Blues between 1994 and 2000.
He was also drafted to the Chiefs in 1999 and played seven tests for the All Blacks, including two at the 1999 World Cup.
After three years in Japan, his flirtation with Bay of Plenty has less to do with ambition and more to do with protracting his career by one more season.
"I've done what I've wanted to do in rugby. When I came back I was of a mind not to play anymore, but with the work I'm involved in, there's a chance to play as well.
"That's what I'm deciding at the moment."
Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter said he had no influence over what Mika decided and could offer little comment.
Mika's availability would be the perfect remedy to the loss of Bay of Plenty captain Clayton McMillan.
McMillan took up Mika's playing contract at the Coca-Cola club in Japan, after Mika turned down an offer to become player-coach.
Mika has not played in several months and his weight has ballooned well above his peak playing size of 108kg.
- NZPA
