Hawke's Bay's former All Black Sevens captain Tafai Ioasa will coach the Bay's Sevens team next summer.
"I'm pretty happy to have been given this role now I'm home for good," Ioasa, a 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist who played in 48 tournaments for the national team between 2001 and '08, said.
"There's so much talent around the Bay to utilise ... not only in the premier club competition but also coming through the secondary schools. There's no reason why Hawke's Bay can't be a top four side on a regular basis at the national sevens," Ioasa said.
The 33-year-old, who is still playing for the Central premier team he co-coaches, was a regular player in Japan until this year. During his sevens playing days Ioasa represented Wellington and Hawke's Bay.
The Hawke's Bay Tuis will return to the women's NPC this season after a one-season absence. Two former Tuis, Chanel Huddleston and Vicki Pene, will co-coach the side.