MOVING ON: Joe Royal runs the ball for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in a 2015 game against Taranaki. PHOTO/FILE
After four years in the blue and yellow hoops of the Bay of Plenty Steamers, hooker Joe Royal is now plying his trade for Counties Manukau.
While he was sad to leave his beloved Steamers whanau, the opportunity to move closer to his family was too good to turn down.
This year he played his club rugby for Patumahoe RFC, the oldest club in the Counties Manukau region, and having been selected for the Steelers squad has come off the bench in their first two Mitre 10 Cup games this season.
"Family was the reason - my parents and little brother are based here and while I was away in the Bay for four years my partner stayed here. It was the perfect opportunity to come back and be closer to them," Royal said.
"Looking back I enjoyed my time in the Bay, the friends I've made and the quality of players I've played alongside, I still keep in touch with them and wish them luck in their games.
"[The highlights playing for the Steamers were] probably making my debut in 2013 against Otago - I scored a try that day so that was a highlight.
"Making the semifinals twice was a pretty proud achievement and goes to show no matter how good or bad our season was we made it that far and we made it as a team and a brotherhood."
Despite moving on he would be keeping an eye on how his former team went this season.
"Looking at the team there are some players that have been there and worn the jersey for a number of years now, it looks like there's a good core group.
"They've got some exciting young ones coming through, it'll be good to see how they go. I'm mates with a lot of them so I wish them all the best," he said.
Royal played club rugby for Rotoiti and confessed the club would always have a special place in his heart.
"I'm a loyal guy to the teams that I've played for and I definitely followed how Rotoiti were going this season. I was pretty proud that they made the final. Even though they didn't go all the way and win it they should be proud of their efforts.
"For a team that doesn't really have any superstars, making the final would've been a proud moment for the club and the community out there.
"We tried to push the standards a bit when I was there and it's good to see they've carried that on. I loved [playing for Rotoiti]. It's a good family club - all my family, my cousins and my brother played for them."
He said his time with the Counties squad had been "amazing" so far.
"I'm the new kid on the block and all the boys have made me feel welcome. When I was at the Bay you never liked playing Counties because they're big and tough, you knew you were in for a good battle because they fight for each other.
"I'm seeing that now being part of the team, everyone's got your back and it's cool to be a part of. There's a really strong family environment and brotherhood.
"At the moment I just want to perform well for Counties and try and get a starting spot week in, week out. I want to make sure the work's done here with Counties first and if I'm lucky enough to get a Super Rugby contract out of it that would be a good box to tick."
The Steamers play Counties Manukau in Tauranga on September 24, a date Royal has no doubt circled on his calendar.
"That'll be a pretty good homecoming I guess. It will be strange - off the field we're mates but on the field we're there to do battle for our respective teams.
"I'm looking forward to that game, it will be cool to play in front of the home town again, even though it's in a different jersey."