Williams moves to Blues; Highlanders swoop

Photosport

ROCK SOLID: Canterbury fullback Paul Williams put in another classy display as the red and blacks trouned North Harbour.

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The struggling Blues franchise have received a much-needed filip with confirmation All Black tour hopeful Paul Williams is heading their way, while the Highlanders have secured a quartet of North Islanders for next season.
Blues in state of shock

Williams, who was a draft player with the Highlanders this year but was aligned to Canterbury, has transferred back to Auckland and will be available for the Blues for next season.

Though the Highlanders missed out on Williams, they have retained three more of their draft players from this year with Manawatu's Hayden Triggs and Johnny Leota and Hawke's Bay's Clint Newland all confirmed among four new signings.

These three, along with Taranaki second five Jayden Hayward, have transferred to the struggling Otago union, making them Highlanders eligible. But, in what shapes as a trend for the off-season, all four will be loaned back to their home provinces for the Air NZ Cup season. 

Williams was part of the All Blacks' wider training squad this year and the fullback/wing is considered a contender for a spot on the tour north in November, probably going head-to-head with Wellington's Cory Jane for the backup No 15 role.

The youngest son of former All Black great Bryan Williams started his rugby in the Auckland region, but transferred south to play for the Highlanders in 2003. He badly broke his leg that year playing against the Blues, and took nearly three years to make a return to top-level rugby.

Williams' departure from Canterbury was confirmed today when the Christchurch union announced their moves after the closing of the official transfer window.

Canterbury have brought in three players, including promising Northland fullback Jared Payne who essentially replaces Williams in red and black country. 

With Leon MacDonald's status still unclear as he continues to struggle with his recovery from a concussion incurred in July, Payne's move south may prove a significant one.

The 22-year-old Waikato fullback moved to Northland this year to gain more playing time, and after producing a series of eye-catching displays for the Taniwha it is a move that has already paid dividends.

Williams, on the other hand, will be a useful addition for new Blues coach Pat Lam who can do with all the experienced backs he can lay his hands on. After the three franchise teams finished ninth, 11th and 12th in the Air NZ Cup round-robin, the under-performing Auckland-based outfit does not exactly have a glut of talent to choose from.

Payne's Northland team-mate, prop Bronson Murray, and Wellington No 8 Thomas Waldrom are the other key Canterbury transfers, though Lions second-rower Ross Filipo has also completed a full move to the area where he plays his Super 14 rugby.

Murray helps fill the void created by the departures of Greg Somerville and Campbell Johnstone, while Waldrom is essentially a straight replacement for the Japan-bound Mose Tuiali'i.

Essentially, the latest moves are all designed to boost the Crusaders, with Payne and Murray to be loaned back to Northland for next year's Air NZ Cup, and Waldrom, a Hurricanes this season, to be loaned to Hawkes Bay.

The Highlanders move, on top of the earlier signing of Northland wing Fetu'u Vainikolo, goes some of the way towards retaining the core of the side that showed so much promise in this year's Super 14.

Otago and Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid said the retention of Triggs, Leota and Newland provided coach Glenn Moore with continuity from this year's squad.

"We've always argued that you can't build a team in one year," Reid said. "Some continuity is essential and this arrangement provides that.

"Securing someone with the talent of Hayward is a bonus."