Kiwis left short at No.10 as Sopoaga signs off

ALL Blacks coach Steve Hansen is disappointed at Lima Sopoaga’s decision to leave New Zealand and sign for Wasps.

Sopoaga confirmed the move, reported to be three years and worth £1.5 million, on Thursday and will head to England when the Highlanders’ Super Rugby campaigns ends this year. The 26-year-old fly-half,

below, will therefore rule himself out of representing the All Blacks at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Just two of his 16 Test caps have been starts since his debut in 2015 and wasn’t part of the World Cup-winning squad that year.

Two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett is firmly established at the first-choice No.10, but Hansen has lost another of his replacement playmakers following Aaron Cruden’s move to French club Montpellier last year.

“We’re disappointed to be losing Lima but we understand his reasons for leaving,” Hansen said.

“He has been upfront and communicated with us through the process and when he leaves, he and his young family will go with our best wishes. Our job now will be to develop the next player to take his place.”

Meanwhile Dragons have signed former England U20s World Cup-winning forward Huw Taylor on a two-year deal from Worcester Warriors.

Taylor, 21, can play at second row and in the back row, and is Welsh-qualified through a grandparent.

“Dragons appears to be an up and coming environment and I am excited to get stuck in,” said Taylor.

Hartpury have brought in George Perkins, Sam Bedlow and Aaron Chapman on-loan from Bristol.

Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes said “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to add these exciting young players to our squad and we sincerely thank Bristol for their co-operation.”