Five added to Turbos squad
Five players have been added to the Manawatu Turbos squad on short term deals to prepare with the side during pre-season.
Te Kawau lock Liam Mitchell, Feilding first five-eighth Ben Wyness, Freyberg outside back Matt Feaunati, Freyberg midfielder Mapa Tuipulotu and Feilding prop Sean Rankin have all been training with the team since they got together for the first time on Thursday night.
Varsity prop Sam Tufuga is also expected to be involved in the preseason buildup, but his availability is restricted by his work.
The players have been added to the squad to double as cover for Super Rugby players and to learn the team’s calls and structures should they be needed throughout the season due to injuries.
Twelve players in the 2016 Turbos squad played Super Rugby this year.
The Highlanders have released Jamie Booth after his sole match against the Kings. Booth was only on a short-term deal covering injuries and Aaron Smith’s postall Blacks rest.
Fellow halfback Kayne Hammington is still involved with the Chiefs, so his availability during pre-season will be dependant on their coaching staff.
The Crusaders’ exit in the Super Rugby quarter finals means Michael Alaalatoa will able to return to the province for some pre-season action.
The Hurricanes have Callum Gibbins, who has been restricted to minor minutes off the bench all year. It has been a similar story for prop Chris Eves.
Midfielder Ngani Laumape has been battling a groin injury, but has also seen limited action in the second half of the season and first five-eighth Otere Black has seldom seen the field at all this year.
Midfielder Jason Emery is another to rarely be used with the Highlanders, while lock Jackson Hemopo has not played from the Highlanders’ wider training group.
Aaron Cruden and Smith are unlikely to be made available at all for the Turbos, while Nehe Milnerskudder is expected to be back in September, but it will be up to the All Blacks’ coaching staff to release him to play.
Due to the lack of game time of most of the Manawatu Super Rugby players, they should not need too much rest before getting back to work with the Turbos.
While the Turbos’ six additional players are not fully contracted, they have a chance to prove their worth in pre-season.
Feaunati has the best chance of the lot with Nathan Tudreu sidelined for four to six weeks.
With the Turbos only having four props under contract, Rankin and Tufuga both have chances to be in the side week one as well.
If the Hurricanes make the final, Eves’ availability will be up in the air and the team would be reliant on Alaalatoa, Fraser Armstrong and Tuki Raimona staying injury free.
The Turbos start the second phase of their pre-season campaign on Saturday when the Manawatu Evergreens take on the Hawke’s Bay Saracens in Napier.