All Blacks sevens veteran Sam Dickson is over the injury which scratched him from the Olympics and will front for Canterbury in Dunedin on Friday night.
The 31-year-old Christchurch-born forward strained his hamstring in the lead-up to the Tokyo Games in July, denying him the chance to add to his 258 games and 89 tries.
Dickson has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby sevens programme for another year with an eye on playing in a World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the World Series, but not before playing for injury-hit Canterbury the remainder of the NPC.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Dickson said, having been named on the bench for Friday’s clash against Otago.
Dickson spent time with Canterbury in 2012 but failed to earn a cap before switching to sevens and representing New Zealand at the Rio Olympics, and winning silver and gold Commonwealth Games medals.
He played for Bay of Plenty in last year’s NPC, making his first start for the Steamers in their 44-8 pasting of Canterbury in Tauranga.
“We don’t talk about that much down here any more. Me and [now Canterbury assistant coach] Marty [Bourke] had some good times up in the Bay, but now I’m with Canterbury, and I’m a Canterbury man born and bred, so it’s exciting to be back.”
Dickson can play all three loose forward positions, a welcome boost for a team missing Highlander Billy Harmon, Crusaders fetcher Tom Christie, and Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace to season-ending injuries.
Before joining the team as injury cover, Dickson was taking a break after his agonising injury, spending his days either playing golf, surfing or simply kicking back.
“It was pretty tough. Obviously, the timing couldn’t get any worse, but those tough things you go through in life makes the man you are now. Just have to take the punches as they come and keep moving. I’ve got a great opportunity now with Canterbury.”
Lock Luke Romano was a familiar face when he rolled into Rugby Park, as was Waisake Naholo from his sevens days.
