'You realise how much you miss it': Matt Giteau relishes homecoming with Gungahlin Eagles

Nerves? Surely not. This is a 103-Test veteran who played in Rugby World Cup finals and helped the ACT Brumbies to Super Rugby glory.

But then again, Giteau can't remember ever waiting this long to play a game after his time in Japan was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. The tinge of regret when he looked outside on game day and saw snow certainly didn't help.

Yet when the Gungahlin Eagles recruit finally stepped onto the park early in the second half, albeit in unfamiliar colours, he knew he was home.

The boot of Canberra Royals scrumhalf Pedro Rolando ultimately denied Giteau a fairytale start in a 19-10 John I Dent Cup defeat on Saturday.

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Rolando nailed four penalties to help Royals into fourth on the ladder, leaving the Eagles five points adrift of the top four at the midway point of the competition.

But it was Brumbies great Giteau who commanded the attention of the handful of die hards huddled in the grandstand, and of course his wife and kids, when he came on at inside centre in his first club game since 2006.

"COVID has suited me, as selfish as that sounds," Giteau said.

"I know it's been tough for a lot of people, but it has forced me to just be still, be home, and be present for the family which has been great for me.

"We've got a young family, we just had a daughter [Winter] about a month ago, so my focus is just on being in Canberra, being involved with the community here and being settled.

"I don't think I've been in Canberra for eight or nine years now, I've been back for holidays. For me it's just trying to get back into the community, mix with old friends, stay with my family, and just enjoy this time."

Giteau was one of several Top League players forced out of Japan as governments imposed border restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.

His last stint in Japan lasted less than three weeks having returned home in March to spend time with family, which also saw him link up with Easts for a session and a reunion on the track with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell.

Then when Giteau had nowhere to play, Eagles coach Marco Caputo swooped.

"Most Thursdays I head to the Fyshwick markets, and Marco has a little coffee shop there. He asked me what I was doing, I said I was training," Giteau said. "He said 'if you're ever interested in a game at Gungahlin, we'd love to have you'. After four months of training by myself, I thought 'you know what, I'll give it a go'."

His first outing was a dour affair with Royals dominating the scrum and grinding their way to victory, leaving the Eagles back line without much ball to play with.

But Giteau is relishing the chance to steel the Eagles' finals bid "for the right reasons" - although he might need some more time to find his way to training sessions in Nicholls after getting lost earlier this week.

"Didn't break a thumb [like I did in my last John I Dent Cup game in 2006], didn't make a tackle, I don't think I did much so I feel pretty good," Giteau joked.

"It's been a while since I have been in Canberra for this long, so it's good to get back into the community and get amongst it.

"Throughout the week it was nice, then when game day came it was snowing and I was starting to regret it in the warm-up.

"Gungahlin have been very welcoming. I've felt a part of their group really quickly. I've been training a lot by myself, so it was good to mix with other people.

"When you don't do it for a while, you realise how much you miss it. It was good just to get out and play for the right reasons. I'm playing with guys, they've all got their jobs outside of rugby and they do it just for fun. It has been really refreshing and enjoyable."

AT A GLANCE

John I Dent Cup round five: CANBERRA ROYALS 19 (Tom Bodman try; Pedro Rolando conversion; Rolando four penalties) bt GUNGAHLIN EAGLES 10 (Alex Small, Levi Shaw tries) at Portsea Oval.