Hooper called in to plug gap at No 10

THE Southland Stags have plugged their first fiveeighth gap by roping in former New Zealand Schools player Broc Hooper.

Hooper joined the Stags in Invercargill on Monday night as Southland eyes its competition opener against Hawke’s Bay at Rugby Park on Sunday.

Hooper was a star schoolboy player while at St Kentigern College in Auckland and has played at agegroup level and higher for Canterbury while living in Christchurch. He played for New Zealand Schools in 2012.

He was part of the Counties Manukau wider squad in preparation for the Mitre 10 Cup this year but did not make the final squad.

He has now been provided an opportunity in Southland days out from the start of season.

That opportunity came about after the Stags were dealt a cruel blow last week when first fiveeighths Tayler Adams and Greg Dyer were both sidelined for up to six weeks through injury.

It meant some frantic searching from the Stags coaching staff to try to fill the void in the squad.

‘‘It was [a challenge]. Also, what comes into it is it was only a day and ahalf out from NZR’s [New Zealand Rugby’s] cutoff for when players can come in before the rules change around how you can do it,’’ Stags coach Dave Hewett said.

‘‘That would have made it a lot more difficult to get someone in, so we are lucky that NZR was supportive because it happened at the 11th hour.’’

Hewett said Counties was keen to see Hooper given game time at Mitre 10 Cup level so it was also supportive in making the transfer happen.

‘‘Between him and James [Wilson], hopefully we’ve got cover sorted at 10 for the weekend.’’

Wilson was being lined up as the Stags’ second fiveeighth this year, but it is expected he will now start in the No 10 jersey against Hawke’s Bay on Sunday. Hooper is likely to provide cover from the bench.

Last year’s Stags first fiveeighth Scott Eade led Marist to another Galbraith Shield club title this year but has made himself unavailable for the Mitre 10 Cup.