Rugby: Umaga sets up shop in home of legends

A picture of Jonah Lomu, Errol Brain and Joeli Vidiri forms a backdrop for Tana Umaga. Photo /Paul Estcourt

As Tana Umaga put his shoes under the desk at Counties-Manukau, three of the province's legends looked down on his opening spiel.

Jonah Lomu, Errol Brain and Joeli Vidiri, with many other rugby followers, will be wondering about Umaga's impact this season as he returns to be a player and assistant coach with the Steelers. For the past few months, coach Milton Haig and Umaga have been working via phone and email on their plans and ideas but from this week they are in real business.

Umaga said his aim was to channel the talent in the province towards some strong performances and to show that playing for Counties was a pathway to higher honours.

When he went to coach at Toulon in France, he wasn't sure whether that would be a career choice. But the more he worked, the better he felt about life in that role.

He preferred the hands-on duties but understood all the time needed to deal with the other parts of his role.

The 37-year-old was looking forward to suiting up for Counties but was not thinking beyond his first appearance in his new provincial colours.