The union has announced props Josh Hohneck and Tau Koloamatangi, along with locks Josh Dickson and Will Tucker, will be back in blue in 2022.
It will be a ninth season with Otago for the 27-year-old Dickson, a key man at both provincial and Super Rugby level, while 36-year-old bookend Hohneck continues his career resurgence since returning from England in 2020.
The other pair are more at the fledgling stage of their Otago careers.
Koloamatangi was a complete unknown when he joined Otago last year, acting as the regular back-up to Hohneck and Jermaine Ainsley.
Koloamatangi is playing for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific.
Tucker, who joined Otago from Canterbury just before the 2020 campaign, has since played for New York in Major League Rugby.
Otago now has 18 players on full contracts, including captain James Lentjes, star backs Josh Ioane and Jona Nareki, rising loose forward Christian Lio-Willie and veteran hooker Liam Coltman.
Young first five Cameron Millar remains on a development contract heading into a full contract in 2023.
There are three halfbacks and the core of a decent loose forward squadron, but no midfield backs and only one hooker.
The three biggest names up in the air are All Blacks prop George Bower, Highlanders prop Jermaine Ainsley and Highlanders midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen, and it would be a surprise if Otago was not keen to hold on to all three.
Other regulars from last year’s squad yet to be re-signed, or ruled out, include Melbourne Rebels midfielder Ray Nu’u, fellow backs Freedom Vahaakolo, Patelesio Tomkinson and Matt Faddes, and forwards Josh Hill and Slade McDowall.
Otago rugby
Confirmed signings
Forwards: Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Tau Koloamatangi, Abraham Pole, Josh Dickson, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Sam Fischli, James Lentjes, Christian Lio-Willie, Sean Withy.
Backs: James Arscott, Kayne Hammington, Nathan Hastie, Josh Ioane, Cameron Millar, Sam Gilbert, Vilimoni Koroi, Jona Nareki.
