Highlanders re-sign two more

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark isn’t wasting any time firming up his roster for the coming years.

Openside flanker Elliot Dixon and midfielder Tei Walden are the latest players to ink new deals with the Dunedin-based franchise, with both now contracted until the end of the 2020 season.

Among others, wing Waisake Naholo and loose forward Liam Squire have also recommitted to the franchise in recent weeks.

Confirmation that Dixon, who has played 88 times for the Highlanders since 2011, would return comes a day after the Ricoh Black Rams announced they’d signed him.

Dixon will play for the Japanese team after Super Rugby wraps up in August, meaning he will not front for Southland in this year’s Mitre 10 Cup.

New Zealand Rugby allows players who have been contracted to a Super team for eight seasons to sign solely with a franchise, rather than both a Super side and a provincial team.

NZR also releases selected players who have proved loyal to their franchise and provincial terms to play in Japan instead of staying put for the Mitre 10 Cup.

Crusaders loose forward

Jordan Taufua is one of those players. He has already been granted a release by Tasman so he can play in Japan, while Canterbury captain Luke Whitelock is also understood to be pondering a stint in Japan.

‘‘It’s great to get the opportunity to play a season in Japan at the end of this year. It will be a new challenge for me,’’ Dixon said. ‘‘I have been with the Highlanders a while now and I’m looking forward to another couple of years with them.’’

With the emergence of Shannon Frizell, the 29-year-old has started just four of the Highlanders’ 10 games this season.

Meanwhile, Walden has been rewarded for a breakout season in the midfield with centre Rob Thompson. Walden debuted for the side in 2016 but battled for game-time until this year. The 24-year-old from Taranaki has started all but one game at second-five eighth this season.

‘‘This is another step forward for the club in putting together a competitive group for 2019 and beyond. Both Elliot and Tei will provide us with the consistency and experience we are looking for in our squad,’’ Clark said.