Lock comes home to a tough campaign

The Northland rugby team has changed a bit since Marty Veale last wore the Cambridge blue kit in 2008.
After a two and a half year stint in England, playing for London Wasps, the 33-year-old lock is back in the north, embracing the changes, and gearing up for a big ITM cup campaign with his old province - starting with a preseason clash against North Harbour today.
"They are a good bunch of boys, there's lots of young fellas and new faces who have joined the team since I last played, and there are those who are a lot older, and a few have moved on," Veale said about the Northland squad.
Veale has enjoyed nomad existence as a player, turning out for NPC sides Canterbury and North Harbour, along with Japan club Kubota and the US club New York Old.
The lock played just the one season for Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup, before signing a two-year deal with Wasps in February 2009.
Veale decided to return to Northland for the ITM Cup season after being approached by Taniwha head coach Adriaan Ferris.
"I had finished up with Wasps after two and a half years, and Adriaan had been in contact saying they needed a lock and asked if I wanted to play this season. It was a good fit with our [Veale and his partner's] plans to come back," he said.
His time with the High Wycombe-based club was highly beneficial for him as a player and he hoped to bring some of that experience to the Northland team this season.
"I think I learnt a lot with the Wasps. It's a different game in the Northern Hemisphere ... most of the games are pretty tight with only six to nine points in them and I think the NPC games will be tight this year as well, with teams grinding out close wins especially if the grounds stay as wet as they are right now," he said.
Veale admitted it would be a tough schedule for the team, with 10 games in an eight week window, which would see the entire squad being utilised but he was looking forward to getting the season under way.
And, after a few years in the UK, it was really nice to see some sun, and the ocean. Veale is unsure of his movements following the ITM Cup but may return overseas to play, he said.
Northland kick off against North Harbour in their first preseason game today at Wellsford's Centennial Park, at 2.30pm.
Wellsford Premiers play Hora Hora in the curtain raiser, starting at 12.30pm.