Star Manawatu back signs with Taranaki rugby

Hurricanes outside back Andre Taylor has signed a two-year contract to play rugby for Taranaki.

The 21-year-old was one of few stand-out players for Manawatu during this season's Air New Zealand Cup. His best performance came in the 42-16 thrashing of North Harbour when he contributed 27 points with two tries, four conversions, two penalties and a dropped goal.

His form at the end of the season was too good for the Hurricanes to ignore and he picked up his first Super 14 contract last month.

He told Fairfax Media the main reason behind the shift was he hoped to see more ball playing for Taranaki.

"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 [Taranaki] and playing with better inside backs, but I'm not going for the money."

Taylor added that if he had stayed with Manawatu he would have played mostly on the wing next season and his first preference was to play in the No 15 jersey.

Taranaki has used several players at fullback in the past three years, including Scott Ireland, Ace Malo and Jack Cameron. It is believed none of the trio have been offered contracts for next season but have been told they could be signed if they show enough form at club level and in the wider Taranaki training group.

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chief executive Mark Robinson confirmed Taylor was the first of several targets to sign with the union.

But he would not name who else the union had in mind or if it had already secured the services of Taylor's Manawatu team-mate Kurt Baker.

Baker, who was involved in the first two legs of the IRB sevens circuit with the New Zealand side, is also believed to be on the cusp of heading north to Taranaki.

The 21-year-old could be eyed as a potential winger, given Taylor's desire to play at the back.

"We're working on a few and we hope to make another announcement this week but we haven't got any signed contracts at the moment."

Manawatu chief executive John Knowles, a former Taranaki manager, told Fairfax Media the union was disappointed to lose Taylor.

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

Taranaki coach Colin Cooper could not be reached for comment yesterday.

- © Fairfax NZ News