Auckland right-arm seamer Danru Ferns will join the Otago Volts this season.
The journeyman medium-pacer is one of four new Otago contracted players for the 2025-26 season.
He will be joined by opening batter Jack Boyle (Central Districts) and middle-order batter Troy Johnson (Wellington).
Their decision to move south and throw their kit in with Otago was signalled in the Otago Daily Times last week.
The other new name on the list is 18-year-old Otago seamer Mason Clarke. He made a promising debut for the Volts last season and has received his first contract.
Dale Phillips, Travis Muller, Leo Carter, Zac Cumming and Dean Foxcroft are missing from the 2024-2025 contracted player list.
Foxcroft has transferred to Central Districts, and Phillips has returned to Auckland, where he played his age group cricket.
Phillips was named Volts player of the year last season. He also picked up the batting and fielding award, and is a huge loss for the province.
The 26-year-old right-hander scored 2611 runs at 36.77, including seven centuries, in 41 first-class games. He also nabbed 48 catches.
Foxcroft is a big loss as well, particularly in T20 cricket. The all-rounder has played five T20s and one ODI for New Zealand.
Ferns, who has played 120 games across all three formats and taken nearly 200 wickets, said he felt the time was right for a change.
"After learning more about the direction the Volts are heading in, it was something that really excited me," the 31-year-old told the Otago Cricket Association.
Boyle, who lived in Oamaru for the first five years of his life, is looking forward to the move.
His father, Justin, who played first-class cricket for Canterbury and Wellington, is a former rector at St Kevin’s College.
"I’ve played against Otago plenty and always got on well with the guys . . . now I’m excited to be part of the group," Boyle said.
Johnson also has a connection with the region.
"My Dad’s from Oamaru and played rugby for Southland, so there’s a bit of southern blood there," Johnson said.
"To represent the Deep South would be something I’d be incredibly proud of."
Clarke is a homegrown product and the New Zealand under-19 player is highly regarded in the province.
Otago has one further contract to hand out, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Black Caps Glenn Phillips and Jacob Duffy are contracted to New Zealand Cricket and remain on Otago’s books.
