Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Highlanders give squad update regarding recently-returned All Blacks

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have announced the arrival of five replacement players to cover for injuries and the franchise’s All Blacks following their recent tour.

ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier this week, the All Blacks completed seven days of MIQ after returning to New Zealand from their three-month tour of Australia, the United States and Europe.

Among the touring All Blacks squad included Highlanders captain Aaron Smith, loose forward Shannon Frizell and young prop Ethan de Groot.

Video Spacer

The winners and losers of the 2021 All Blacks season | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Video Spacer

The winners and losers of the 2021 All Blacks season | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

As a result of their international commitments, all three players have been handed an extended break that won’t see them report for duty with the Highlanders until mid-to-late January.

The Dunedin-based franchise confirmed on Friday that it has called in three replacement players to fill the voids of Smith, Frizell and De Groot.

Those players are Otago loose forward Sam Fischli, Tasman, New Zealand U20 and Crusaders U20 prop Luca Inch, and Otago halfback James Arscott, who debuted for the Highlanders against the Waratahs during this year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

That trio will be joined by a further two players who have also been drafted into the Highlanders squad as injury cover.

ADVERTISEMENT

Otago, New Zealand U20 and Highlanders U20 halfback Nathan Hastie has been called into the squad to act as cover for Folau Fakatava, who is expected to return from his ruptured ACL in the early rounds of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific.

Openside flanker Billy Harmon, meanwhile, has been ruled out for the first half of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific due to a shoulder injury, and has been replaced by impressive Otago loose forward Christian Lio-Willie.

The news comes a day after the Highlanders announced that midfielder Patelesio Tomkinson has been ruled out for all of next year’s campaign and has been replaced in the squad by electric Taranaki wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone.

Highlanders head coach Tony Brown described the opportunity for Fischli, Inch, Arscott, Hastie, Lio-Willie and Tikoisolomone to train at Super Rugby level as “a real chance” to push for game time when the season kicks-off in February.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was always interesting to see how replacement players respond to the opportunity to come into the squad,” Brown said via a statement.

“They’re coming in off good provincial form and normally add extra enthusiasm and energy to our environment, it’s a real chance for them to stake a claim in the preseason and demonstrate they belong at Super Rugby level.”

The Highlanders begin their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch on February 18.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Joseph Herman 3 hours ago
Les affiches des quarts de finale de Champions Cup

My university days were a whirlwind of excitement and unforgettable experiences, a time when I not only forged lifelong friendships but also met my ex-girlfriend. Our relationship blossomed over three years, during which she introduced me to the fascinating world of cryptocurrency trading. What began as a mere curiosity quickly evolved into a fervent passion, and to my surprise, I discovered I had a knack for it. I started with an initial investment of $5,500 in Bitcoin, a decision that would prove to be incredibly fortuitous as the cryptocurrency market surged. Through careful trading strategies and reinvesting my profits, I managed to amass a fortune that peaked at an impressive $310,000.The joy of my financial success was overshadowed by the unraveling of my relationship. The betrayal came when I discovered her infidelity, a painful revelation that shattered my trust. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, she crossed a line I never anticipated. In a shocking act of betrayal, she hacked into my email account, which was crucial for managing my cryptocurrency investments. Fortunately, I had the foresight not to store my wallet passwords there, but the situation escalated when she made off with my phone, which granted her access to several of my accounts. A wave of panic washed over me as I grasped the full extent of the damage she could inflict.Confused,I turned to my network of crypto-savvy friends on Instagram, hoping for guidance. It was during this frantic search for help that multiple people recommended GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , a service renowned for its expertise in navigating such crises. With time slipping away and my investments hanging in the balance, I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , detailing my dire situation and praying for a miracle.To my immense relief, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES worked diligently to recover my accounts and, against all odds, successfully retrieved all my cryptocurrency. Their expertise not only salvaged my investments but also restored my faith in the community. I learned a valuable lesson about trust and resilience, emerging from the experience stronger and more cautious than ever. This ordeal taught me the importance of safeguarding my digital assets and the value of having a reliable support network like GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . This shaped my approach to both relationships and investments, reminding me to remain vigilant and discerning in all aspects of life. Thanks to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES for recovery.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right? As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?
Search