Mitchell Hunt returning home to Tasman Makos
Mitchell Hunt, pictured here playing for New Zealand against England in the U20 World Cup final, is returning to Nelson.
Former Nelson College rugby star Mitchell Hunt is returning home from Auckland next season after this week signing a three-year deal with the Tasman Rugby Union.
Hunt, 20, has also signed with the Crusaders for next year's Super Rugby campaign, having headed to Auckland in December 2013 to join the Auckland Rugby Union's high performance squad. Last year, Hunt was also named in the Blues development squad, having previously been a member of Auckland's national sevens team.
Hunt was selected in this year's New Zealand side that won the Under-20 Rugby World Cup in Italy and is currently part of Auckland's national provincial championship lineup. He is also studying engineering at Auckland University.
Tasman chief executive Tony Lewis said the Tasman union had never given up hope of Hunt someday returning to Nelson.
"Obviously a few years ago the union was disappointed to see Mitchell head off to Auckland and it's always been [the plan] since I started here to bring him home if the opportunity arose," Lewis said.
"We've been talking to him close to the two years that I've been here on a regular basis and the opportunity came up whereby we presented him with a three-year contract in June."
Lewis said that with Tasman's current first choice first five-eighth Marty Banks having signed for next season, the union needed cover at first five-eighth and fullback.
"He's a natural successor there, but it also gives us a bit of depth at fullback which we haven't had for a while," Lewis said.
"I suppose the relationship with the Crusaders is now starting to bear quite a bit of fruit, that the Crusaders and the Tasman Rugby Union have worked hand in hand to ensure this deal came off."
Lewis said that next year's Tasman coaches, Leon MacDonald and Mark Hammett, had been working through their list of contracted players and were planning for the future, with current head coach, Kieran Keane, also involved in the succession planning.
"What we like about Mitch is that he's a talented footballer who can read a game very well. His ability to play first five-eighth and fullback and probably the most important thing to us - he's a local boy and we're very keen on growing our local boys.
"I've always said to Mitchell that we've wanted him home, so it's a great win all round."
