PHYSICALLY and spiritually Carisbrook Park, Dunedin, and Dangar Park, Mayfield, are worlds apart.
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The infamous "House of Pain" is headquarters to the Otago Highlanders and was Hayden Pedersen's home for three years.
The Kiwi flyer also had a year at Lancaster Park, now AMI Stadium, with the Canterbury Crusaders, emerging from their development squad.
On Saturday, the 28-year-old and veteran of 16 Super rugby games, made his run-on debut for The Waratahs in a 31-28 loss to Hamilton in the heart of Newcastle suburbia at Dangar Park.
Family and friends were on hand as Pedersen nearly stole the show, scoring a scintillating hat-trick and putting fear in the Hawks defence every time he touched the ball.
It was a far cry from the packed stadiums that hung on every run, every side-step, every tackle.
Pedersen hopes those days return, but for now he is content to spend time in Newcastle with his and fiancee Lisa Crook's family and play park rugby.
"My father has lived here for 12 years but the main reason I came back is because Lisa is from Newcastle," Pedersen said.
From Blenheim at the top of the South Island, Pedersen has been a professional rugby player since he was 19.
He spent the past three years in Italy, firstly at Viadana and then Parma and Gran Parma.
While in Parma he struck a friendship with Tahs back-rower Todd Gosindi, who was playing in the under 20s.
"When I came back I didn't know what I was going to do," Pedersen said.
"Todd helped line me up a job at Lifestyle Solutions so I said I'd come and have a few games."
Pedersen initially signed with Newcastle Rugby League powerhouse Western Suburbs but had to pull the pin due to work commitments.
"I look after a young boy who has mild autism and work Sundays," Pedersen explained. "I was keen to play league and try something new. I'll see what happens, maybe next year if I don't go to Japan or somewhere else playing rugby."
In the meantime, the electrifying outside back is focused on the Tahs and making a late run to the finals.
They are in sixth, seven points behind University who they meet at home on Saturday.
"Hopefully I can help them make the finals, that's the plan anyway," he said.
Pedersen returned in February from a knee reconstruction and, despite have played three months in Italy, is still not fully recovered.
"I get a bit of stiffness in it and it has impacted on my pace," he said.
"I'm about 90 per cent."
Tahs captain Chris Young likened Pedersen to former teammate and Australian Sevens player Ben Petersen.
"He is ultra impressive. The way he runs at the line, his balance, he is a class above everyone else," he said.
"I think Peto was a bit more agile, lighter on his feet, but Hayden has a great in-and-away and is really powerful in attack and defence."
