All clubs appear to have ample numbers of players with a further influx of Polynesian players adding to the mix through the clubs.
The cosmopolitan nature of North Otago rugby will be widened by the arrival of Dutch and English players into the club ranks.
Such is the impact of the Polynesian players in North Otago that Maheno took the field for its first match of the season on Thursday night against Valley with only three Caucasian players, Ross Hay, Michael Hore and Andrew Fisher.
OLD BOYS
Coaches: Derek McLennan, Tai Halelele
Last season's Citizens shield winner will again be a major contender. Although the side will be without North Otago skipper and No 8 Joe Mamea for the start of the season because of a knee injury in a pre-season game, the side has power up front and pace in the backs.
Ralph Darling and Samuela Kula will be the nucleus of the front row with hooker Unga Kefu. Ben Bloxham, Sione Halaleie and Aisea Havea will vie for the loose forward positions, with Lio Havili probably taking Mamea's place initially.
The backline should be an offensive one, with first five-eighth Mataias Aholeilei and midfielders Ross Williams and Roma Sefo sure to test most opposition defences. Ofa Fatafehi who starred as a top try-scoring winger for Old Boys in the past will provide plenty of punch from fullback.
KUROW
Coaches: David Gard, Steve Hotton
Kurow has the numbers and the enthusiasm but lacks experience, with many young players. In the forwards Regan Laughton will once again be the dominant figure and he will have support from A.J. Paton, the former North Otago and Maheno loose forward, Gareth Isbister, Tim
Graham and Struan Robertson.
Kurow will also field a promising inside back combination in halfback Ross McCone and new first five-eighth Rob Waldie, who has impressed in pre-season games. In warm-up games, Kurow lost to Waimate by a single point and drew with Pleasant Point.
As well, the side hosted Christchurch club, Shirley, and Dunedin's Kaikorai in a recent triangular tournament.
ATHLETIC
Coaches: Ross Lory, Mark Cook
The loss of star halfback Kilifi Fangupo to Hawkes Bay has been Athletic's biggest loss. Others from 2007 who will be missing from the ranks are winger Adam Halkett, North Otago hooker Cameron Schultz, prop Ronnie Manu and lock Tim Woodcock with a knee injury.
Fangupo's departure sees former winger Craig Robson come into the halfback position.
Veteran Grant Johnston will provide the experience in the backline with Welshman James Bird at first five-eighth and Jon Sinclair and Simi Fuluasou in the three-quarters.
Up front, Athletic will produce a pack that will make a real impression. North Otago representatives, Aisake Fonua, Pale Mafi, Pita Fifita and Viliami Leo are the hard core with newcomer lock Tony Woodbridge an acquisition. Dylan Winter, who missed last season because of a knee injury, returns to the side. Regulars, loose forward Josh Lewis and line-out exponent, Jason Greaney, will form a strong pack.
EXCELSIOR
Coaches: Sammy Talanoa, Shaun Mathews
Excelsior will start the season without four of its key players with Jason Forrest and Jason Millns yet to return from playing in Holland. They will bring with them two Dutch players, Rudi Rautenbach and Dirk Schut.
Lisiate Lea has joined Excelsior from Athletic. Tokelau Tatafu will add stability to the front row while the big acquisition is Jeremy Te Huia, the former Alhambra-Union five eighth who played 10 games for North Otago as a loan player last season at first five eighth.
Add to the backline Tim Milmine, who was on the verge of North Otago selection last season, former Irish international and current North Otago coach, Mike Mullins who is returning after a shoulder reconstruction, and promising young halfback, Chris Talanoa.
VALLEY
Coach: Don Roney
Valley will have plenty of gaps to fill in the premier side for the start of the season at least and received an early season shock when last season's Citizens shield finalist was beaten 36-11 by Maheno.
Missing from the backline will be Faiatu Tuamoheloa, the North Otago and New Zealand Divisional three-quarter, Geoff Mavor, Matt Mavor, Ryan Fraser and New Zealand Divisional winger, Scott Mayhew, who has not fully recovered from the broken leg received against Poverty Bay last season, while Nathan Cunninghan, who missed the bulk of the Heartland season with a bicep injury, has yet to put in an appearance.
Nick Webster will be the first choice halfback with Wairarapa Bush and New Zealand Divisional representative Hamish McKenzie starting the opening game at first five-eighth.
Mike Mavor, who first played senior club rugby for Valley in 1993 and who has played 112 first class games for North Otago, will again be in midfield with Craig Kingan and Mark Roney, who had little rugby last season making the starting line-up early in the season.
If Mavor is the cornerstone of the backline, then Robert Borst would be his equivalent in the forwards. The 39-year-old who first represented North Otago in 1995 on his arrival from Taranaki, which he had represented previously, will again turn out for the club, probably on the blindside flank.
Absent from the pack will be Will Maxwell but another veteran, Barry Fox, will likely make up the front row with hooker Tim Norton and John Blakely.
MAHENO
Coach: Geoff McLeod
The return of former North Otago star midfield back Fepikou Tatafu will bolster the Maheno backline for the coming season.
Tatafu who last played for Maheno and North Otago in the 2003 season is a hard tackler and a devastating runner who would most certainly have made the New Zealand Divisional side if it was not for the fact that he had previously represented Tonga.
Tatafu starred on Thursday evening in Maheno's win with his hard, straight running and crunching tackling and obviously has lost little of his ability while away overseas for four years.
Maheno's strength lies in its big bruising forward pack led by Lotu Tonga and Toe Hausia, both
North Otago players, while the three Tatafus, Fepikou, Limoni and Palani cut capers in a backline which was well fed by quick-thinking half Paddy Ahotaeiloa. - By Terry O'Neill
