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A rising prop and a popular southern lad once seen as the future in the Highlanders No 10 jersey have been farewelled by the club.
The Highlanders yesterday followed a trend set by several other teams as they posted on social media thanking the players for their ‘‘commitment and outstanding contribution to the club’’.
In order of their first appearances for the team, they were Jonah Lowe, Oliver Haig, Cameron Millar, Tanielu Tele’a, Rohan Wingham, Soane Vikena and Sefo Kautai.
Former Brumbies prop Kautai, who is heading to the Waratahs, never really got going in his two years in Dunedin, while hooker Vikena made a bright start but his stocks faded as Jack Taylor’s rose.
Wingham remains an extremely bright prospect at prop, and will still play for Otago, while both he and Haig are reportedly heading to the Hurricanes.
Haig has been solid value for the Highlanders in 32 games over four seasons, and the Perth-born, England-raised blindside or lock was good enough to earn All Blacks XV selection two years ago.
Haig’s fellow Otago Boys’ High School old boy, Millar, has plenty of fans in Highlanders country.
The former New Zealand under-20 playmaker was fast-tracked into a permanent Highlanders contract at 20, and finishes with 33 caps and 188 appearances for the club.
Millar, who remains a key man for Otago and seems likely to stay in Super Rugby with the Blues, found himself dropping down the pecking order when the Highlanders chased Chiefs star Josh Jacomb. They have since signed youngster Mika Muliaina and former Moana Pasifika first five Patrick Pellegrini.
Lowe, possibly heading to Japan at the age of 30, flourished at both wing and centre in the final 18 months of his time with the Highlanders, and Tele’a was a reliable hand in the midfield.
The Highlanders have effectively already replaced Millar and Haig (with Shannon Frizell), while Jermaine Ainsley is returning to join the front row.
A target to replace Vikena could be former Waratahs and Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu, while Blues midfielder Xavi Taele could be an option to replace Tele’a.