Highlanders keen to keep Wheeler

Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler may play for the Highlanders next season despite signing a deal to play in Japan.

Wheeler is to play for Japanese club Suntory Sungolaiths in the 2016-17 season.

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said yesterday the franchise was keen to keep Wheeler for next season and was in discussion with the lock.

"We are obviously keen to retain him in the Highlanders for 2017. We see him as an important part of our team, both on and off the field,'' Clark said.

Wheeler (27) played his 50th game of Super rugby on Friday night in the side's win against the Crusaders.

He played four games for the Crusaders over three seasons before moving to the Highlanders in 2013.

His first year was blighted by injury and the team's poor form but he has blossomed in the past two seasons.

Clark said negotiations were continuing with Wheeler and his new club but he was reasonably confident the franchise would retain the lock.

But he would never be 100% certain until the contract was signed.

Some New Zealand players are able to go and play in Japan and come back and play for a Super rugby team in the Japanese off-seasons.

New Zealand Rugby rules state if players have played more than 80 games of Super rugby they can play in Japan and then come back and play Super rugby.

That rule was introduced to stop players moving between countries during seasons and stopping the player drain from New Zealand. But it is not a hard and fast rule and there are exceptions.

Clark said some Japanese teams did not let players come back and play in New Zealand after playing in Japan.

Players were getting offers as they were part of a champion team and clubs wanted them.

A Maori All Black, Wheeler is a character off the field for the Highlanders and coach Jamie Joseph has acknowledged his off-field exploits are a boost
to the side.

Wheeler will be joined at Suntory by Australians Nigel Ah Wong, veteran George Smith and Brumbies first five-eighth Christian Leali'ifano.

Former Pirates and Harbour forward Solomon T-Pole is also a member of the Suntory team.

Wheeler told the Otago Daily Times earlier in the season he was tossing up what to do next season but he loved playing for the Highlanders and really enjoyed playing in the South.

The Highlanders have plenty of options at lock with Tom Franklin signed until at the end of next season.

Mark Reddish and Alex Ainley are solid veterans while Otago lock Josh Dickson is seen as a player of the future by the franchise.

He has been on a strengthening programme for the past year for the franchise and has trained with the team for periods of this season.

The Highlanders have 26 players signed for next season and last week announced the signing of winger Patrick Osborne for 2017.

Osborne will play in Japan for the Kubota Spears and has also pledged his international future to Fiji.

Add a Comment