Most Northland rugby fans will remember with great fondness the flair and x-factor Caucau provided fans, on his way to the tryline.
Parkinson was the man who originally attracted Caucau to our region after scouting the then 20-year-old out at the Wellington Sevens in 2001, helping him set up his first New Zealand bank account along the way.
Parkinson said the move to sign Caucau was always on the radar after the 115kg 32-year-old made murmurs of wanting to return to Super Rugby.
This time, it was Awanui clubman Glen Subritzky who arranged a visa for Caucau in order to bring him back to the region.
"We're always looking to try and provide some x-factor to the Taniwha. And if you google him, he did that for Toulouse in their semifinal as well."
The last time the winger-cum-centre was seen on New Zealand television sets was in 2010 when Fiji played Australia and Caucau turned out at centre weighing in at 120kg.
In 2011, Caucau ruled himself out of Fiji's Rugby World Cup campaign as he preferred to remain with family in France.
During Caucau's time away from Northland, he has been surrounded by controversy as the star winger was caught up in on-field fights, which left him serving suspensions, and questions surrounding his fitness.
Fijian selector Dan Lobendahn told the Fiji Sun that the Fijian players were unfit after Caucau served a two-match ban for punching French flanker Olivier Magne during a wild brawl in their Rugby World Cup match in 2003.
"The players are unfit and that is why Rupeni Caucau resorted to fighting [against France]," Lobendahn said.
The Fijian Broadcasting Corporation reported Caucau's contract in France lapsed at the start of this year, which was when talks with the NRU began.
The FBC also reported Northland was also looking at signing 22-year-old Jone Macilai.
