Former All Blacks prop Angus Ta'avao will continue his miraculous recovery from spinal injury to rejoin the Blues for next year's Super Rugby Pacific.
The versatile front-rower was been something of a Super Rugby nomad, with stints at the Blues (2012-15), NSW Waratahs (2016-17) and the Chiefs (2018-22) on his resume, but that career seemed to be over, when he was stretchered off North Harbour Stadium during an NPC quarter-final last October.
"That was possibly the scariest moment of my life," he told Stuff. "I went numb from the neck down, I couldn't move for what felt like a long time, but probably was more like a minute.
"It was the scariest, craziest feeling of looking down and being, like, 'Whose arms are those? and seeing my tattoos on my forearm, and then realising they’re mine, I can't move."
After several months of rehabilitation - and even heart surgery - Ta'avao was able to return to the field for Auckland during this year's national championship and will take his next step back with the Blues franchise, where his next appearance will be his 50th.
"I'm stoked to be back with the Blues," he said. "Auckland is my home, my family is here and I'm excited to come back to where it all started for me as a professional rugby player.
"Funnily enough, when I was choosing my training jersey number, I just added my two kids' birthdays together and it spat out the number 49. Clearly, it's a number with meaning for 2024."
Ta'avao, 33, has 135 Super Rugby matches under his belt, along with 23 tests for the All Blacks. His last appearance for the national team was the infamous defeat to Ireland at Dunedin last year, when he was heavily concussed in a head clash and received a red card, as he was led off the field.
His arrival at the Blues is timely, with NZ international Nepo Laulala heading to France and Manu Samoa prop James Lay moving to Moana Pasifika.
"I know I can add to the environment and culture at the Blues, and want to share my experiences with the younger players," said Ta'avao. "Coming in as a rookie and hearing from experienced players really helped me, so that's something I want to give back to the club."
