Most of the traffic is heading in one direction but every now and then a player bubbles to the surface.
Owen Hundt fits into that category.
The 21-year-old has played three games for the Dunedin premier side and has been training with the Otago squad for the past month.
The loose forward grew up in Cleveland but lives in Boston where he plays with the New England Free Jacks.
The Free Jacks are preparing for their entry into Major League Rugby next year and Hundt hopes his experiences down under will serve him well when he continues his career in the United States.
"You watch where they are the best in the world and that is New Zealand," he said.
"Everyone here has been playing since they were little ... so it is a different experience to what I'm used to in America. It is more intense and the competition is a different level.
"I want that to push me and make me a better player."
Hundt started playing rugby at St Edward High School when he was 13.
He also played American football when he was growing up. He was an inside linebacker - a defensive position which involved plenty of tackling.
But he was recognised by Tiger Rugby when he was playing sevens and joined its academy after high school.
Two years ago he got on a plane and flew to Auckland.
"I kind of just brought my ticket and showed up. Then I rocked up to Ponsonby."
He had a stint with the Auckland under-19 side and "also played a bit with the Bay of Plenty under-19s as well".
He did not end up making either team for the national under-19 tournament so headed back to the United States.
He linked up with the Glendale Raptors in Colorado but felt there was more opportunities for him in Boston with the Free Jacks.
He made a big impact for the franchise in their exhibition games this season and then leaped at the opportunity to return to New Zealand - this time to Dunedin.
Free Jacks analyst Tom Kindley, who is from Dunedin, pointed him in this direction.
Hundt will return to Boston this month and find a job which works with his lifestyle until the Free Jacks reassemble.
He has signed a two-year deal with New England and hopes it will be the beginning of a long relationship.
American rugby is on the way up and Hundt is keen to be part of it.
His ultimate goal is to play for the United States at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. But he would also like to play in the Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby.
"I've got a lot of learning to go before I get to that point. But I want to stick it out and take the opportunities like this to push myself."