Greg Somerville and Stirling Mortlock both revealed their motivation behind signing for the Melbourne Rebels at the new jersey launch on Thursday.
Somerville came from Gloucester, where he endured a rough time with injury. He faced a difficult choice between the Rebels and a return to Todd Blackadder and the Crusaders.
"It was really heart-wrenching not to go back there. They were really positive about me being part of it again," Somerville said to AAP.
"But I wanted to challenge myself in a new way and not try and find what I had before.
"It's going to be a heck of a challenge bringing the team together, bonding and then get everyone playing at a level you'll need to be competitive."
The Crusasders option also included a possible tilt at the number three shirt for New Zealand's World Cup squad, which would have been his third World Cup and one more chance to redeem the wrongs of 2003 and 2007.
But after an eight-year Test career culminating in a Bledisloe Cup triumph in Hong Kong in 2008, Somerville did not want to seek a repeat, particularly given the new competitors for the spot in Owen and Ben Franks.
"There were a few long nights thinking about it but to hinge everything on that after being to two, putting everything into them and it not working out ... I didn't want to hang my hat on the whole thing," he said.
"I felt I managed to leave it on a really good note. Going back might have been taking a step back.
"They're (the Franks brothers) playing exceptionally well, it's great to see. I've had a lot to do with Ben and Owen in my time at the Crusaders.
"I know the work ethic and time they've put in to becoming All Blacks over the last few years, it's great to see it paying off."
Mortlock is definitely gunning for his international spot back, despite missing this year's squad selection due to back surgery and age - he is 33 - not being on his side..
"I think the team that we've assembled down here will definitely be competitive," he said.
"I like to give my heart and soul to the team that I'm playing for and I think if I do that and do that consistently and we're winning matches than hopefully I'll be back in that Australia squad.
"I'll certainly be focused on playing as well as I can for the Rebels and then hopefully things will take care of themselves from there."
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