Umaga to 'play, coach Counties-Manukau'

Tana Umaga will play for Counties-Manukau this season.

A source close to the national provincial rugby competition franchise revealed today to the Waikato Times the 79-time All Black (74 tests) has signed for the battling franchise and an official announcement is expected early next week.

Counties-Manukau chief executive Phil McConnell did not immediately return calls this morning, but a source told the Times the deal was as good as done and the franchise were "just waiting for Tana's people to finalise things and release it".

It is understood Umaga, who has been coaching and more recently playing at French club Toulon since retiring his international career and leaving New Zealand, will play and assist head coach Milton Haig.

Umaga's latest role with Toulon was working under Philippe Saint-Andre as backs coach.

His deal with Counties-Manukau is understood to be for two years which could see him available, if selected, for the Chiefs 2011 Super 15 campaign though the now 36-year-old would have tough competition in the midfield from Callum Bruce and All Black Richard Kahui.

Counties-Manukau were last year so strapped for cash they had to take extreme measures to pinch pennies including taking the water coolers out of their offices, but now have the money to attract Umaga, a rugby legend, albeit an aging one.

It is understood, new business development manager Phil Kingsley Jones – Jonah Lomu's former manager – has attracted big money to the franchise and helped attract Umaga.

He may not be the only high-profile player to turn out for the Steelers and it is thought talks are ongoing with at least one other player of note.

Improved performances on the park and a more pleasing bank balance off it, could give the Pukekohe-based franchise more hope when, or if, the New Zealand Rugby Union decide to cut the top tier of the tournament from 14 teams to 10 as was originally planned for this season.

Umaga, a former junior Kiwi rugby league player, played 122 Super rugby matches for the Hurricanes and scored 49 tries and 100 provincial games for Wellington scoring 52 tries.

- © Fairfax NZ News