With a local derby like the Blues against the Chiefs tonight in Hamilton, it's not uncommon for a player to have ties to both teams.
But it is unusual for that man to be an Englishman.
At 25 years old, Piers Francis' Blues debut was a long time coming with a long distance travelled.
He first came to Auckland from Kent in his gap year when he was 18 -- sidestepping university for a different kind of education.
"I was really eager to pursue rugby, so I thought where better to go than NZ where I think the best rugby gets played and test my talents out here and give it a go really," Francis said.
He's racked up quite the collection of jerseys on our shores, playing ITM Cup for Auckland, Waikato and Counties-Manukau. Francis was also part of tonight's enemies' development squad four years ago.
"That was their first year that they won the competition, I had a tough time with injury throughout the campaign, but it was a great eye opener to me to be involved in a successful season with them," Francis said.
It was there he met Tana Umaga and made quite the impression, Umaga bringing the Englishman back from the United Kingdom to play for him at Counties and now the Blues.
"Piers brings enthusiasm, work rate, he doesn't shy away from anything. A big thing for us is he brings a lot of voice and helps organise our backline," Umaga said.
With the Blues naming an unchanged backline for the first time this season, Francis gets another crack at second five-eighth.
"I've played a little bit of 12 now and then, normally started at 10 then pushed to 12 during games, but being a first five, to be out that one more position you've got different things to look at, you've got a little bit more time," Francis
Francis will be a crucial cog in unleashing the Blues' talent outside him against arguably the form backline in Super Rugby tonight.
Newshub.
