Hurricanes backed despite exodus
August 3, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
NEW Zealand Rugby Union officials say they are confident the Wellington Hurricanes will field a competitive team in next year's Super 15 despite the mass exodus of top players from the franchise.
All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore signed a one-year deal with the Otago Highlanders on Monday after being cut from the Hurricanes for the 2012 season along with New Zealand teammate center Ma'a Nonu, who has joined the Auckland Blues.
New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden and scrumhalf Piri Weepu have also quit the Hurricanes in recent weeks, for the Waikato Chiefs and Auckland Blues respectively, and All Blacks wingers Hosea Gear and Cory Jane are considering offers from other teams.
Both Gear and Jane are expected to join the exodus, leaving center Conrad Smith as the only current All Black on the Hurricanes' books.
New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew and professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen met with Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni and later affirmed their confidence in the team's management and in coach Mark Hammett.
"He (Te Puni) has come into quite a tough environment and made some tough calls," Sorenson told the Dominon-Post newspaper. "He's only been there three months and Mark (Hammett's) only been there for a heartbeat as well. They're new boys and they're in the firing line at the moment. We understand some of the fans will be disappointed to lose some of those players, but it's only really Piri and Aaron who have left of their own accord."
All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore signed a one-year deal with the Otago Highlanders on Monday after being cut from the Hurricanes for the 2012 season along with New Zealand teammate center Ma'a Nonu, who has joined the Auckland Blues.
New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden and scrumhalf Piri Weepu have also quit the Hurricanes in recent weeks, for the Waikato Chiefs and Auckland Blues respectively, and All Blacks wingers Hosea Gear and Cory Jane are considering offers from other teams.
Both Gear and Jane are expected to join the exodus, leaving center Conrad Smith as the only current All Black on the Hurricanes' books.
New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew and professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen met with Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni and later affirmed their confidence in the team's management and in coach Mark Hammett.
"He (Te Puni) has come into quite a tough environment and made some tough calls," Sorenson told the Dominon-Post newspaper. "He's only been there three months and Mark (Hammett's) only been there for a heartbeat as well. They're new boys and they're in the firing line at the moment. We understand some of the fans will be disappointed to lose some of those players, but it's only really Piri and Aaron who have left of their own accord."
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