Rene Ranger joins Crusaders, Highlanders sign Vahaakolo
The Crusaders have signed former Blues and Highlanders backs Rene Ranger and Josh McKay ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
Both have been brought in as injury replacements, with McKay confirmed as a replacement for All Black Braydon Ennor, who will miss SRA while he recovers from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Ranger is expected to be on deck for at least three or four weeks of the competition, while wings George Bridge and Manasa Mataele recover from pectoral injuries.
Ranger, 34, played 76 games for the Blues between 2009-2017 and has six All Blacks caps to his name.
Fresh off another campaign with Northland in the Mitre 10 Cup, the powerful runner has the ability to play both in the midfield and on the wing. Despite Bridge and Mataele being sidelined, the Crusaders have ample of experienced options at wing, including Sevu Reece, Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga’anuku, and now McKay. Rookies Chay Fihaki and Isaiah Punivai are other options.
However, it’s in the midfield where Ranger might be most utilised, given Ennor’s injury leaves the 11-times champions light.
All Black Jack Goodhue and second-year player Dallas McLeod are the only fit specialist midfielders with Super Rugby experience, meaning utility David Havili could find himself playing there.
Confirmation Cantabrian McKay has landed a gig with the team he grew up aspiring to play for will be welcome news for those gobsmacked he didn’t secure a contract when the five Kiwi teams were named late last
year.
The fact the Highlanders didn’t extend the 23-year-old beyond his three seasons in Dunedin didn’t go down well with some, particularly after he appeared to be finding his groove at Super Rugby level late last season.
It’s understood the speedy fullback/wing attracted interest from other franchises, but Crusaders coach Scott Robertson convinced him to join the red and blacks. The Crusaders held optional conditioning sessions on Monday and yesterday, before medical assessments and a yoyo fitness test today.
Meanwhile, Outstanding Otago wing Freedom Vahaakolo has been snapped up by the Highlanders on a short-term contract.
Vahaakolo scored seven tries in his debut season for Otago last year and won the NZRPA Mitre 10 Young Player of the Year award, impressing his peers with his pace, power and finishing ability.
Eyebrows were therefore raised when he missed out on a full Super Rugby contract but the door has now opened in Dunedin, with Highlanders wing Sam Gilbert not expected to be
available until April as he recovers from the ACL injury he suffered last year.
The Highlanders, who started their preseason training yesterday morning, have also handed short-term deals to Irish lock Jack Regan and rising flanker Sean Withy, both of whom played for Otago last year.
Regan, 23, will provide cover for big lock Pari Pari Parkinson, who is coming back from surgery on his troublesome ankle and is not expected to be fit until April.
Withy, 20, will cover for Japanese import Kazuki Himeno, who is stuck in Japan due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
It is not uncommon for players who initially missed out on Super Rugby contracts to go on to make big impressions.
The Highlanders get Super Rugby Aotearoa under way with a home game against the Crusaders on February 26, but Vahaakolo, Regan and Withy could be given a chance to stake their claims in the preseason fixtures against the Crusaders in Temuka on February 12 and the Hurricanes in Alexandra on February 19.