Taylor off to Taranaki

After four years in the Turbos team, new Hurricanes wing Andre Taylor is joining Taranaki next season.

Taylor has signed with Taranaki for two years – he will be coached by Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper – where he hopes to see more ball.

It leaves a hole in the Manawatu backline, but union chief executive John Knowles said Taylor never sought a contract with Manawatu.

"He is a quality player and we're disappointed," Knowles said.

"But he didn't want to sit down and negotiate with us."

Taylor, 21, said last night he had been promised an opportunity at Taranaki to play at fullback as well as on the wing and that he was moving on with his career.

He was also offered a contract with Hawke's Bay, but was unlikely to have played fullback there.

"It's nothing to do with Manawatu rugby," he said. "It's a personal choice. Manawatu is a good union and I'll miss it a lot, but I want to up my standard of rugby, to get to bigger things I guess. I'm better off there and playing with better insides [backs], but I'm not going for the money."

He said had he stayed with the Turbos he would have mostly played on the wing and only occasionally at fullback.

Cooper had spoken to him about playing at fullback.

- © Fairfax NZ News