Julian Savea will pull on familiar colours for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season, confirming he will play for Wellington Lions.
The former All Black had signalled a possible move to Auckland, where he lives, but says he is excited to return to the capital where he made his provincial debut in 2010.
Savea returned home from French club Toulon in May, joining the Hurricanes as injury cover last month.
The 30-year-old is elated at the opportunity to wear the Lions jersey for the first time in three-years.
"Really excited to announce I’m coming back home to where it all began," Savea says.
"To be able to put this jersey on means the world to me, and to be back home with the brothers, representing Wellington, is an honour and a privilege."
Savea has scored 15 tries in his 32 starts for Wellington and captained the side to the 2017 championship, earning promotion to the premiership.
Current Lions skipper Du'Plessis Kirifi says Savea's experience will serve the side well in 2020.
"The boys are stoked to have Jules back this year," Kirifi says. "He's an amazing player, who’s achieved nearly everything there is to achieve in the game.
"You’ve got boys coming out of high school and club rugby who are playing Mitre 10 Cup for the first time, so to have someone of this calibre floating around presents an awesome opportunity to learn."
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