Dixon (31) spent a period in Japan just over a year ago and seemed destined to be playing offshore in 2020.
But the former Highlanders co-captain is back again this year and looking forward to a good season.
He took some time during the off-season considering what he would do in 2020 and decided it would be back in Dunedin.
‘‘Just had a think about what I wanted to do. Have to reset a few things,’’ he said.
‘‘I have a young family and we decided to stay another year because we really like it down here. Once we got a few ducks in a row we decided to stay.’’
He went home to Hawke’s Bay for the Mitre 10 Cup season and put in an impressive shift as the side went all the way to the Championship final before losing to Bay of Plenty.
The hooker said it was good being back home in Hawke’s Bay.
‘‘Home is where the heart is. Hanging out with your mates, playing with them — a bit of fishing and diving.
‘‘For me, that really helps me out, a bit of balance really helps, and we have got a young crew up there.’’
But that quickly finished and it was into a tough pre-season with the Highlanders.
‘‘It has been a pretty full-on pre-season and just looking forward to getting back under the roof at the stadium. It felt pretty rushed there for a bit and with Christmas and New Year it takes a bit to get your feet moving a bit more.
‘‘The younger players add a lot of energy to us. You just give them a little bit of direction here and there.
‘‘ It is really good for me, and I’m looking forward to playing with these guys and getting to know them well.’’
The oldest player now in the Highlanders, Dixon said leadership took many forms in a game.
‘‘Just a bit of guidance here and there. Some of the games we have played, in the second half we have struggled a bit and teams have capitalised on that.
‘‘It is not a 1-23 man game any more. We need everyone in our squad to contribute and I’m sure it will be like that when we face the Sharks.’’
Dixon had a back niggle which had kept him out of the two pre-season games but he is back to full fitness and is keen to play on Friday when the side faces the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The New Zealand Maori captain said having assistant coach Tony Brown back in the Highlanders environment was a huge boost.
‘‘He’s a great Highlanders and Otago man, the way he coaches is pretty awesome. With Jamie and Brownie having some real success with Japan at the World Cup, we are pretty excited to have him back and his ideas.
‘‘Brownie has always got a few tricks up his sleeve. It is quite good as he always makes you think. We have got a couple of new things we are going to have a crack at. It is great that we have got a bunch of new guys because they don’t know Brownie’s systems so it is a bit of a refresher and a lot of new stuff as well.’’