Former All Blacks fly-half Lima Sopaoga has made a return to New Zealand after an eight-year absence and is set to play for Waikato in the country’s National Provincial Championship (NPC).
Sopoaga departed New Zealand’s shores to play in the Premiership with Wasps in 2017 and from there he also had stints in the Top 14 with Lyon (2021 to 2023) and with Japan Rugby League One outfit Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks (2023 to 2025).
The 34-year-old, who made 16 Test appearances for the All Blacks between 2015 and 2017, has been named on Waikato’s replacements bench for their NPC opener against Auckland at Eden Park on Thursday.
Anton Lienert-Brown ruled out through injury
Sopoaga also represented Samoa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and his inclusion in Waikato’s matchday squad offsets the Hamilton-based side losing the services of current All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown’s service to a shoulder injury.
Lienert-Brown’s injury is unrelated to a broken collarbone which kept him on the sidelines for three months of the Chiefs’ recent Super Rugby Pacific campaign but he is expected to be fit for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
Sopoaga’s return to New Zealand will see him featuring in the NPC for the first time since September 2016 when he was in action for Southland.
He started his provincial career in New Zealand with Wellington in 2010 before moving to Southland who he represented between 2014 and 2017.
A former New Zealand U20s representative, Sopoaga also enjoyed a successful stint with the Highlanders at Super Rugby level from 2011 to 2018 and played a leading role when the Dunedin-based franchise won that tournament in 2015.
“This wasn’t on the bingo card for 2025, but here we are,” Sopoaga said on social media with reference to him joining Waikato for their 2025 NPC campaign.
“Guess we running it back then or maybe I should run and get some dye first.”
Aaron Cruden to start at 10 for Waikato
Sopoaga will be Waikato’s back-up fly-half with another All Blacks playmaker 50-Test veteran Aaron Cruden wearing the number 10 jersey against Auckland on Thursday.
With Lienert-Brown being ruled out of action, it means that seven of All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson’s current squad will be in action in the NPC’s opening round.
In other action, utility back Ruben Love will be available for Wellington’s home clash with Canterbury while hooker Brodie McAlister will be in the visitors’ ranks.
Meanwhile, Otago will be able to call on the services of number eight Christian Lio-Willie when they take on Southland in Invercargill.
Speedster Emoni Narawa and prop Pasilio Tosi will be available for Bay of Plenty when hosting Tasman at Tauranga Domain on Sunday. Utility back Timoci Tavatavanawai will be available for the visitors in that encounter.
And flanker Dalton Papali’i is expected to feature for Counties Manukau for their clash with Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday.