The plan for center Van Breda, who is also a former Worcester player, has always been to stay in Jersey and not give up professional rugby when needed.
“Things happen for a reason and I’ve found a way to make it work for me,” he told BBC Channel Ireland.
“I have a wife and a young son here who love the jersey, so we want to stay here for a long time. This is my way back home and I have been welcomed with open arms by the rugby club.
“So it was hard work, but I had really great people around me who helped make it as easy as possible.”
Van Breda found work in the island’s finance industry and now works a nine-to-five job and moves to his old training ground with new team-mates who pay to watch him play.
“It’s funny, you would think there would be this huge difference,” he says.
“But the environment here allows everyone to have fun and there are no big gatherings or choices every Monday, just the boys can go out and have fun.
“Playing with teammates who do it for the love of the game feels like being back in school. I think that’s possible with what we do on the pitch and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
