Ainsley is in the final year of his contract and, at 28 and with a wide-ranging curriculum vitae that includes three test caps, it is arguably the ideal time to take his skills to the market.
He is bound for France, where he will join Lyon — the recent home of new Highlanders attack coach Kenny Lynn — after this Highlanders season.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time being home over the last three years," Ainsley said yesterday.
"It was always a childhood dream to play for the Highlanders."
Ainsley has been a consistent performer for the Highlanders in 27 games over the past three seasons.
He was named the club’s forward of the year in both 2022 and 2023, played for the Maori All Blacks against Ireland, and was selected for the All Blacks XV last year.
Before he returned to Dunedin, where he was educated at Otago Boys’ High School, Ainsley played for both the Force and the Rebels in Australia, and earned his three caps for the Wallabies in 2018.
His debut for the Highlanders was a special moment as his father, Joe McDonnell, played for the inaugural team in 1996.
Ainsley has 87 Super Rugby caps, so is a fair chance of reaching 100 this season.
He also played 26 times for Otago in the NPC.
The Highlanders have been developing a promising replacement for Ainsley on the tighthead side in the form of Saula Ma’u, who should apply plenty of pressure to the veteran. Rookie prop Rohan Wingham is also a big part of the future.
- New Zealand Rugby has clarified the suspension of Highlanders loose forward Tom Sanders.
As reported in the Otago Daily Times on Friday, Sanders was suspended for two games after being cited for a dangerous clear-out during Otago’s last game in the NPC.
The Highlanders’ final preseason game, against the Crusaders in Methven on Friday, will actually count as the first game of his suspension as it is being run under regular laws, and is not a game of three thirds or four quarters.
Sanders will then have to miss the Highlanders’ opening Super Rugby game against Moana Pasifika.
The Highlanders’ first two preseason games were not "in compliance with the laws of the game", so could not count towards his suspension, but he was unable to play in them as suspended players are not allowed to be involved in any match-day activities.
