The Canberra Times can reveal 26-year-old Kata has signed a one-year deal to return to the Brumbies for the club's 2022 Super Rugby campaign.

Kata is two games into a stint with Auckland in New Zealand's national provincial competition before he returns to Canberra for pre-season training with the Brumbies.

He is due to return in November but those plans could change dramatically. Kata's wife is pregnant with their second child and due in early February.

The COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and travel restrictions could have a major impact on when Kata and his family decide to return home.

MORE SPORT

"We're planning to come back in November but we'll talk to [Brumbies general manager] Chris Tindall and [Brumbies coach Dan McKellar] about the best time to come back," Kata said.

"She will probably need some help from her family. Our daughter is four, [my wife] will be pregnant as well and it's only us there [in Canberra]. We'll see about travel and make our choice from there."

Kata's return will bolster the Brumbies' firepower in the back line next year with Jesse Mogg's comeback already set to complement a star-studded line-up.

The bulk of the Brumbies' back line has already worn Wallaby gold - think Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Tom Banks, Tom Wright, Len Ikitau and Irae Simone - while Andy Muirhead has been knocking on the door of a Test call-up.

McKellar is relishing the prospect of unleashing Kata after an injury-riddled campaign kept him to five Trans-Tasman appearances this year.

"That's the reason why I asked to come back home to play in the NPC here, so I can get my body ready for next year and still learn the game," Kata said.

"It's good to be home to learn some new things here in New Zealand. Five games is not that much and that's the reason why I was pushing to come back to New Zealand and play NPC.

"I'm still learning the game, I'm only in my second year. That's the reason why I asked if I could come back and play some NPC here in Auckland and get my body ready for the next season."

Kata said "it was an easy choice" for his family to stay in Canberra for a third year since crossing codes from the NRL's New Zealand Warriors.

"The boys and even the coaches, they've been brilliant ever since I got to Canberra. They're really welcoming and they've become my little family," Kata said.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: