RUGBY UNION: After rising from the platform of grassroots rugby to don the green and gold of Australia, the chance to chase the sporting dream on foreign shores was an opportunity Mackay-based rugby union product Mona Tietie almost passed up.

Impressing with the Australian Stockman Union side abroad this month, the powerful centre from Mackay City was presented with the chance of a lifetime via a contract offer with Spain's Union Rugby Almeria club after being put onto an a Spanish agent through a friend.

But after the initial excitement of moving to the other side of the world became reality, the dedicated family man and father of a three-year-old son almost turned his back on his dream until partner Eleanor stepped in.

"I thought about the opportunity, but a week ago I was going to say no because I didn't want to miss out on Christmas with my family, especially my son,” Tietie said.

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"But she (Eleanor) was definitely more excited than I was, so we sat down and spoke about it and she said 'go and do what you love'.

Boarding a plane yesterday, Tietie's Spanish coup is the icing on the cake of what has been a stellar year in the New Zealand national's career.

Representing Mackay Rugby Union, North Queensland's representative side and the Australian Stockman side on a tour of New Zealand and Argentina, the sky is the limit for Tietie.

While a Spanish sojourn was not the Christmas present Tietie was ever expecting, it's one that will deliver plenty of cheer, with the 26-year-old expecting to link up with the Spanish League Pool C club for at least the 2017/18 season.

Tietie knows he can mix it on the international stage, but is unsure of what awaits him at his new club.

However, any initial nerves have been relaxed after a chat with new coach Pablo Jimenez, who provided Tietie with assurances that he'd fit in well.

"I don't know what to expect, but the coach said that I will definitely enjoy the footy and the company from all the other fellas,” Tietie said.

"I think it'll be a fast style of rugby over there, and he's (Jimenez) hoping I will bring heavy defence and hard ball running.”

While Tietie admits it will be hard to be away from his family, he knows opportunities like this don't come around often, if at all.

"Maybe I will never be able to have another opportunity to do this ever again,” he said.

"If I do well (in Spain), who knows what will happen.”