Nick Evans admits if he had stayed in New Zealand, he would probably no longer be playing.
Evans (33) is into his sixth season with the Harlequins club in London and has signed on for another two seasons.
Evans played 16 tests for the All Blacks from 2004 to 2007 but, with Dan Carter in front of him, decided to head north while still relatively young.
It is something he has never regretted, and a move which has lengthened his career.
''If I was still here, I don't think I would still be playing. I don't know, really. No-one has really ever asked me. But I would have probably moved on fairly quickly,'' Evans said.
''I would have been stuck behind someone like Dan and then they would have been looking to bring someone new in pretty quickly. I might have ended up somewhere like Japan. The move to get up to England has prolonged my career.''
Evans started playing rugby late and never made the New Zealand colts or schools teams.
He first played for North Harbour in 2001 and then was picked for the Highlanders in 2004, when he also transferred to Otago.
He said his time in the South was full of fond memories.
''It was brilliant. I really enjoyed my time in Dunedin. We had a great team culture and had fantastic fun, both on and off the field. We did not have as many wins as we wanted but it was great. The crowd was great, back when scarfies were real scarfies and they were rugby fans.
''I remember Otago [rugby union] had a 125th celebration and it was a big weekend. There was a big show at Carisbrook and I took my old man round the town on Sunday morning. We went down Castle St and there were burned-out couches, people lying all round the place.
''It really does feel a long time ago now. I haven't been back properly since I left so it will be interesting to come back down there this weekend. Not a lot of things change but I'm sure things have changed in Dunedin.''
Evans played 16 tests for the All Blacks, debuting at Carisbrook off the bench in 2004, but left in 2008 with his path blocked.
So, six years in England have given him a pretty good view of the state of English rugby.
''It has improved. Massively. When I got there there was probably only a couple of teams that were ambitious and were trying to play rugby. Now everyone is trying to do that. Trying to score tries. They have ambitious game plans and want players who want to play to that game plan.
''And it is not just England. The game has changed in Ireland and Wales. They realise they have to score tries to compete against the best.''
The first five-eighth said the northern hemisphere was catching up but would not pass the southern hemisphere teams.
''We expect our front-row forwards to be able to do things with the ball. Be able to read a three on two, putting guys into space. You look at last weekend, and we did not play well for 75 minutes and had the one chance and took it.
''The English had three chances and were not clinical enough to take any of them. They are working towards it but it is still a work in progress.''
Evans said the All Blacks were the favourites for next year's World Cup and he felt England was more of a chance in 2019.
Evans will head back to England at the end of the month, and start pre-season training.
Last year was a 47-week season, and he admits it can be a grind.
''But if you win something at the end of it, there is the satisfaction of getting something from all the hard work. At the moment I'm managing my body OK and still enjoying it.''
He had done some coaching and media work in the United Kingdom, and that may be where the trained physiotherapist heads after he finishes playing.
This coming season will have something special at the end of it.
Evans and his fiancee, former Oamaruvian Sally McLennan, are to be married in Queenstown next June, with son Harry in attendance.
