Were it not for an invitation from Brumbies coach Dan McKellar at the start of last year to join preseason training, the 30-year-old would have traveled to the USA into the teeth of one of the global epicentres of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was set to pursue the next chapter of his rugby career in America, but opted to forego that opportunity and have another crack at the Brumbies.

"I always think about that," Iona said after signing with the Brumbies for 2022.

"I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen [at the start of last year], it was an unknown at the time because the competition hadn't started, there were questions about the competition being cancelled.

"When I got the phone call from Dan I really had to think about it and I'm glad that I took this opportunity because everything after that kind of fell into place.

"Doing the preseason with the boys at the start of the year really got me into shape and got me going from there."

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Iona, who joined the Brumbies initially in 2014 before stints in France and the United Kingdom, has been biding his time with the Tuggeranong Vikings for the past two years in the John I Dent Cup.

Earlier this year he helped Samoa qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Iona was hopeful his latest Brumbies deal would lay the foundation for him representing his country in that tournament.

"It was on the top of my goals to make it back into the Samoa team," Iona said.

"I've always wanted to represent my country. In the back of my mind if I'm going to have this goal I'm going to keep going, no matter what.

"That was the reason I wanted to stay in rugby still and really push for it to make my family proud and make my parents proud. The first time I put that jersey on for Samoa it really made my parents and my family proud.

"The bigger goal is to play in the 2023 World Cup for Samoa."

But before that Iona hoped to carve his niche on a Brumbies' roster which lost playmakers Bayley Kuenzle and Reesjan Pasitoa at the end of last season.

He'll add plenty of depth to McKellar's squad ahead of next year's inaugural 12-team, 14-round Super Rugby Pacific competition.

"There's so much young talent running around in that Brumbies jersey, and I'm pretty sure there's more flowing in," Iona said.

"The good thing about Brumbies is the boys really push each other and that's been a big thing since I've been back.

"We like to test each other, whatever position you're in with the depth that we have. At the end of the day everyone holds each other accountable for our training ethics. I'm sure that's why some people see the Brumbies as a top team, because the boys really push each other."