Rugby: Injection of talent expected by Mains

Otago deputy chairman Laurie Mains cannot name any new players yet but says it is looking very promising that the union will have new talent next year.

Mains, who is working with Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid in recruiting and retaining players, said there would be a mix of promising players signing for the union and players who could immediately fill a few holes in the Otago side.

He said he wanted to get everything signed and tidied up before releasing the names of the new players. Mains hoped to make that announcement in about three weeks.

"Things seem to be going well and I'm reasonably positive. But you're never over the line until you get the signature. We are getting close in getting a number of players who will strengthen the team considerably."

Mains said there were good players in the Otago B team and the junior teams who would sign with the union.

Otago was working closely with the University of Otago in trying to entice players to Dunedin to combine a rugby career with study.

The union was trying to get a higher quality of player into its academy. Some players from the New Zealand Schools side had already signed.

"We are happy with the work Tim [player development manager Colling] is doing but he needs just a little bit more time. We just want to uplift the academy and improve the quality of players going into it."

He said Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph had been helpful in getting players, and the union was very grateful for that.

Mains did admit the history of Otago over the past four or five years had been negative in signing players but there was a belief out there that the new-look union, under chairman Wayne Graham and Mains, was heading in the right direction.

He said the new board had time now to see what it had inherited and what it now wanted in the professional game was a much higher standard of accountability.

He said because current players had not yet finished the season, they had stayed mostly away from them, although he did say some players had not stepped up to the mark this season.

Mains would not say exactly how many new signings there would be but revealed it would be more than three although maybe not as many as a dozen.

There would be a higher level of accountability with everyone involved with the professional game.

"We've had a chance now to look at what is going on and we feel there needs to be a step up on the professional side. There needs to be much more accountability in place right across the board.

"From the players, the management, the coaches, the trainers, everyone who is involved in the system. People have to do their jobs. It is as simple as that."