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Hurricanes re-sign pair of locks to extensions

Caleb Delany of the Hurricanes mixes with fans following during the round eight Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Chiefs at Sky Stadium, on April 13, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have re-signed locks Isaia Walker-Leawere and Caleb Delany on long-term deals.

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Walker-Leawere has inked a two-year extension until the end of 2026 while Delany will remain at the club until 2027.

The signings boost the forward depth for the next few seasons, an area of strength for the squad after a dominant pack in 2024.

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Walker-Leawere has been with the club since his debut in 2018 and has reached 60 caps over his six seasons.

“I’m proud to be signing to be a Hurricane through to 2026,” said Walker-Leawere.

“The Hurricanes has been my home for the past six seasons, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue playing for the club I call home.”

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15 - 38
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24-year-old Delany has come through the Wellington system into the Hurricanes squad, moving to the capital to join the Lions.

The hard-working lock has been one of the unheralded players of the season becoming one of the top lineout options.

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“I’m very happy,” said Delany, “I love this team, love the club, love where it’s going, and the culture.”

“I’m grateful for the time the Hurricanes have invested in me and gaining all this experience at a young age has been awesome. I’m keen to keep tracking here with the club and see where it all takes me in the future.”

Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw was delighted with the deals, locking in two key players with the Hurricanes for the next few seasons.

“I’m delighted,” said Laidlaw.

“They’re two quality players who we think have a big future in the team and they’re going to get better. Having an ability to continue to improve is a big part of why we extend players and they’re two players who are excited about getting better and being here long-term.

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“While they’ve got a fair bit of experience, their best rugby is still ahead of them. They’re the main stay of the locks in the forward pack so it’s amazing to have them onboard.”

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cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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