Highlanders boost loose forward stocks, sign Liam Squire
The Highlanders have bolstered their loose forward stocks, signing Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock.
Squire has played for the Chiefs for the past two seasons, but his game time was limited this season due to injury.
He has played a significant role in the success of Tasman over the last few NPC seasons with his strength as a strong ball carrier.
Whitelock joins the Highlanders after playing 50 Super Rugby games for the Crusaders.
He was also an All Black in 2013 and will help fill the void following the departures of Nasi Manu and John Hardie.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said Squire and Whitelock were good additions.
"We are delighted to have secured Liam's and Luke's services, we were looking for a strong ball carrying eight who would suit our style of play and we believe Liam fits that description. Luke's Super Rugby experience and versatility will be a real asset to our group, we're looking forward to having him join the Highlanders."
Whitelock commented that he was, "looking forward to coming down to Dunedin and being with the Highlanders next year. I have heard a lot of great things about the culture that has been developed down there".
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said with the core of the champion winning 2015 team returning for 2016 there had not been a lot of off-season recruitment required.
In total 27 of the main 32-man Highlanders squad would return from 2015 while 30 of the 38-man wider squad would be back.
All of New Zealand's five 38-man Super Rugby squads will be announced on October 28, but Clark said the Highlanders roster would be revealed before then with only a three more signings to be announced.
"The retention rate is pretty high," Clark said.
"You take the Hards [John Hardie] and Nasi Manu that everyone knows of, and there is probably three that we won't re-contract, so there is only five new ones we will be contracting."
"You don't plan on having too much turnover, five to seven each year maybe. Any higher than that and you start to have continuity issues."
- Stuff
