Meeuws, 35 later this month, has joined Otago for at least the next six weeks of the side's domestic campaign.
The former All Black, Highlanders and Otago prop had his first training with the Otago side yesterday and has been named on the bench to play against Tasman tomorrow in Nelson.
"It's good being back in a familiar environment. The principles and heritage about the place are still here. Then you see the likes of Tony Gilbert here and it brings back very good memories," Meeuws said yesterday.
"I was about to come home and move into things outside rugby. But then I got a call from Otago seeing if I would be interested in helping out for about six weeks, and here I am."
He has brought back children Eva (7) and Inez (5) to start school next week, while his wife, Juanita, and the rest of the family will return next month after she packs up their house in Wales.
They own a house in Dunedin.
Meeuws was set to start a carpentry course at Otago Polytechnic, with designs on becoming a builder, before he received a call from coach Steve Martin.
Experienced prop Keith Cameron has been laid low by a damaged ligament in a thumb and is set to miss the first month of the season.
Meeuws, who can play both sides of the scrum but is more of a specialist tighthead, was still finalising the contract but said he just wanted to get back on the field, having last played for Otago in 2001.
Meeuws then went to Auckland, before joining the overseas exodus in 2004, first heading to France, before moving to Llanelli Scarlets last year.
He played a few games for the Welsh club side before he snapped the Achilles tendon in his left leg in November.
He fought his way back to fitness, then played 30 minutes for the club in a Magners League match against Ulster in May to prove his fitness.
The club had a controversial rule whereby it could dump players if they did not play a minimum number of matches.
"As I came back for the pre-season, they said to me they couldn't afford to pay me. That showed me they did not want me there, so I worked out a settlement with them."
He had no issue with Llanelli, and wished the club all the best.
That was in the past, and his future was now back in the South, and helping Otago.
Meeuws said he did not know many of the Otago players, as most of the players from his generation were now coaching.
But he said there was still a good buzz at training and everyone was excited about the season.
His Achilles was fine, his fitness was good and he was looking forward to getting back into first-class rugby.
He said financial constraints were really starting to bite in European club rugby.
"Last year, at Llanelli, they got rid of 10 senior players and replaced them with two Welsh players and a whole lot of under-20 players.
"In England and France, there are nearly 110 players off contract and most teams are cutting squads by three to six players. So there is a surplus of players around."
Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid said Meeuws' heart remained in Otago rugby and he had readily offered his services.
He brought vast experience and mana to the team.
Otago coach Steve Martin said Meeuws' contribution on and off the field would be a great asset to the squad.
• The Meeuws file
For the record
Position: prop.
Age: 34.
New Zealand Under-17 1991.
New Zealand Under-19 1993.
NZ Colts 1994-95.
All Blacks 1998-2004.
All Black debut: v Australia, Sydney, August, 1998.
Last game for All Blacks: v South Africa, Johannesburg, August 2004.
Tests: 42.
Test tries: 10 (most by an All Black prop).
Games for Otago: 40 (1996-2001).
Games for Highlanders: 47 (1997-2001).
