ACT Brumbies wrecking ball Solomone Kata to end 10-month wait to see family

The hulking winger mentions the burning desire to take his game to another level in 2021 as the Brumbies prepare to launch into domestic and trans-Tasman competitions.

But the smile only grows wide enough to catch a glimpse of his gold-capped tooth when he talks about the chance to hold his daughter for the first time in almost 10 months.

Kata will finally return to New Zealand on Friday when the Brumbies' first block of pre-season training wraps up, and upon arrival he will spend two weeks in hotel isolation.

But the prospect of staring at the same four walls for a fortnight will all be worth it when he finally gets to see his partner Steph and daughter Si'i, who have been stranded in Auckland amid travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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"It's pretty tough, especially with my daughter," Kata said.

"She's growing older now, she's three years old now. I missed a special birthday, her third birthday. That's the thing that hurt me a little bit, I wasn't able to be there, especially when she's sick.

"Lately she's been sick but luckily enough my partner there, and our family there, they do everything for her when I'm not there.

"It will be a special moment, even to see her when I'm in isolation. You're not able to touch them, but just to be able to see them.

"I'm pretty much going to be in a hotel for two weeks and I'll be inside for Christmas as well.

"I don't really care about that, I just want to go home to see my family. I'm flying on Friday morning. Really excited hey.

"I'm going to try get them so I can bring them back here with me. I think it will be alright for us three to come back. I can't wait to be honest."

Kata is a Tongan resident, which means he could not return to New Zealand. Steph and Si'i are not Australian residents, so they were kept from joining Kata in Canberra as governments looked to curb the spread of COVID-19.

But now he hopes he can bring his family back home with him to stay in Canberra, where his father has set up camp after border restrictions prevented him from returning to Tonga.

Kata has been granted an extra week of leave before he returns to the club's University of Canberra base, coming back to training on January 11 while the bulk of his teammates start a week prior.

One can sense how excited he is at the prospect of playing in front of his family again, after spending the bulk of the 2020 season apart.

After the Brumbies won the Super Rugby AU grand final in September, post-game hugs and kisses with family were replaced by a video call, with Kata walking around the Canberra Stadium turf with a trophy in one hand and a phone in the other.

"Honestly it was pretty special hey, I just wish they were here at that time," Kata said.

"I understand why they can't be here and why they're not here with me. As soon as it was finished, I just ran inside, got my phone and called them while I carried around the cup.

"This time next year, I'll be with them. I'll make sure I do everything right to be in the team first, and just do everything right, look after my body. I'll try my best to go to the next level next year with my footy."

But what comes first is what matters most for Kata, who will swap terrorising opposition teams for a warm embrace with his girls.