Fed up of playing second fiddle to the likes of Jerome Kaino and Ali Williams, former Blues loose forward/lock Dean Budd moved to Northland for more game time in the ITM Cup competition.
In Whangarei on Saturday, he did get quality time as a blindside flanker but his Old Boy's club
is still struggling to win games.
The softly spoken No6, who's rubbed shoulders with the best Super players as a Blues replacement player in 2009, now aims to impress the Blues selectors as a part of the Northland set-up in the fast approaching ITM Cup.
Born in Whangarei, Budd moved to Palmerston North when he was eight before moving to Auckland.
"It's back to my roots now. My mum and grandparents live here and Old Boys is a special club to me because my dad played for them and I wanted to follow his legacy," he said.
"Hopefully, I can get more game time this year and push for Blues honours from here."
Budd said only through injuries in the squad did he get an opportunity to play games against Western Force, Crusaders and Bulls last year.
"It's difficult from down there [at the Blues]. They have loosies like Jerome Kaino, Ali [Williams] and others and I basically sat on the bench."
He was so starved of game time that he flew to Canada to play for the Velox Valhallians Rugby Club before joining Old Boy's campaign.
"I was 110 [kg] but have toned down a bit. Getting away to Canada, away from the system here, and getting a break with Velox was what I needed to clear my head and find my feet."
He also played for Auckland in the 2008/09 NPC competition.
Missing out on Blues selection this year hurt, he said. But it has also motivated him and he hopes to get into Super 15 next year after a strong performance in the ITM Cup competition - if, as expected, he can secure a starting spot in the Northland team.
