A former sevens star with experience of Super Rugby.
A Cantabrian with experience of the Dutch league, a Frenchman and a handful of flying Fijians with varying levels of experience.
North Otago have again compiled a fascinating mix of talent and cultures as they attempt to get their hands on the Meads Cup for the first time since 2019.
Coach Jason Forrest, entering his fifth season in the role, likes what he has seen from his squad in preseason and a training camp, and is quietly optimistic a positive season awaits.
"I feel like we’ve got a really good vibe going so far," Forrest said this week.
"We’ve got some really exciting players. We’ve got guys in key positions. When we get things right, we’ve got big, brutal finishers, but we’ve also got guys who are going to do the hard work.
"It’s all about the guys wanting to do it for each other. The players are talking to each other and driving it, and you can sort of sit back and watch.
"What really excites me is the absolute potential — if we get things right — to hopefully rip things apart."
The Old Golds were a mixed bag in 2022.
They won four and lost four to finish fifth after the regular season, before getting smoked 31-15 by Mid Canterbury — their opponents in the first round this weekend — in a Lochore Cup semifinal in Oamaru.
"We had a lot of to-ing and fro-ing around our selection, especially in the backline, and we never really nailed things off," Forrest said.
"I thought we did well with the squad we had. We were one win away from finishing fourth and having a crack at South Canterbury.
"But we should have done better than what we did, and it was a disappointing end to what started off to be a pretty good campaign."
The North Otago union undertook a vigorous review to rake over the ashes of the campaign.
Forrest was reappointed for a further term, but said he had to look in the mirror and analyse mistakes he had made and his motivation for wanting to continue.
"I learned a heap, personally. I didn’t do enough things right. I took too much on myself and didn’t delegate well. I didn’t ask for help enough.
"We had a really good review, went through the wringer and came out the other end.
"I felt like I wasn’t done."
Forrest will again have Old Golds great Ralph Darling as his assistant, while former No 8 Joe Mamea and long-serving fullback Luke Herden are also on the coaching staff.
While the arrival of "Spook" Herden has generated some interest, it has been comfortably drowned out by the recruitment of Vilimoni Koroi.
The quick-stepping back is still just 25 but his career has included stints with both the Highlanders and Otago as well as world sevens tournaments with the New Zealand team.
North Otago used no fewer than five players in the No 10 jersey last year, so there is real hope Koroi can get a regular run at first five and bring all his attacking skill to Heartland rugby.
"I’ve known him for two weeks now and all I can talk about is what he’s done for our side since then," Forrest said.
"He’s been phenomenal. He hasn’t come in being a sevens superstar or a Highlander. He just understands where he is within our set-up.
"He travels up three days a week but he just feels like a local player. And when he speaks, people listen."
Another interesting newcomer is Valley lock Rory Bartle.
The former Welsh under-20 and London Scottish representative has been made captain, replacing Maheno hooker Hayden Tisdall.
"Rory’s just got the ability to get on with anyone," Forrest said.
"He’s been in professional environments, and he knows what to do and when to do it. He sets high standards and puts pressure on others to do the same."
Bartle’s deputies will be veteran flanker Mat Duff and exciting newcomer Jesse Bowring, a midfielder who played in the Netherlands league.
Squad turnover is high with just seven players returning from the starting XV in the last game of 2022.
Two Harbour club players, midfielder Aleki Morris-Lome and lock Taylor Dale, take the other import slots, but there is no player of origin at this stage.
Koroi will soak up a lot of attention in the backline but opposing teams will still want to be wary of electric winger Mone Samate (nine tries in 2022) and halfback Tini Feke (seven), while Fijian newcomer Matia Qiolevu has sizzling pace.
Big prop Meli Kolinisau is back to anchor the scrum, backed by Kelepi Funaki and Tisdall up front and Junior Fakatoufifita in the boot.
Ageless lock Josh Clark has barely played this season but his class and commitment can never be doubted, while Kasimila Vaihu and Samuela Babiau are looking promising.
The Old Golds will hope it is them celebrating a return to Meads Cup glory in October, and not the old enemy South Canterbury charging to a threepeat.
"To be fair, we weren’t fair away from them last year," Forrest said.
"I believe we’re a much better side, and we’ve prepared better.
"South Canterbury are the pinnacle, absolutely. But I 100% believe we can get to that mark."
