Waikato players shift north
Two of Waikato’s most exciting young talents are moving on from the Mooloos, with outside backs Shaun Stevenson and Jordan Trainor to play their provincial rugby for North Harbour and Auckland, respectively, from next season.
It’s understood the duo, who were also team-mates at New Zealand Schools level and at this year’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship in England, have opted to shift back to the provinces they grew up representing - something the Mitre 10 Cup is all about. The pair’s Super Rugby allegiances will remain unchanged - Stevenson will stay on with the Chiefs, while Trainor will continue with the Blues.
It presents a blow to Waikato and their future prospects, with the province already sitting out this weekend’s semifinals for a fifth straight year. It will place an added reliance on the likes of Sevu Reece and Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara, who showed some promising signs in this their first year of NPC rugby, while some from the national title-winning Waikato under-19 side may get a good look in.
Stevenson, who doesn’t turn 20 till next month, has kept impressing since bursting onto the NPC scene last year. He made the Chiefs’ squad, playing six games after fighting back from an injured AC joint in his shoulder suffered in the opening round against the Crusaders.