Stags sign talented Nu’u from Christchurch club

If you want to make Raymond Nu’u uncomfortable, try getting him to talk up his abilities on the rugby paddock.

The 20-year-old midfielder has signed with Rugby Southland for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup, but his Christchurch club duties will mean he won’t be sighted until the Stags’ preseason campaign gets under way.

‘‘I’m really excited. It was always one of my goals to play Mitre 10 Cup, and to get an opportunity with Southland is exciting,’’ Nu’u said. ‘‘I don’t really like to rate myself. I’m competitive when I’m on the field. I don’t like letting anyone get past me and I like to put in a good hit or a good carry. If I get the chance to have a run, I’ll go for it.’’

Nu’u has been a member of the Crusaders’ wider training group for the past three years and trialled for the New Zealand under-20 team but was hampered by an ankle injury.

He has previously worked alongside Stags assistant coach Dale McLeod at the Sydenham club in Christchurch, and Stags head coach Dave Hewett got a good look at him during the under-20 trials.

Hewett, in his first term with the Stags, has been conscious of maximising the talent that exists within Southland’s borders, but he has made an exception with Nu’u. ‘‘A real focus for us is to either contract a local or guys who have come down to play club rugby in Southland,’’ Hewett said. ‘‘We also have to be realistic in that we know we can’t fill all our positions from within our local boundaries.’’