The Highlanders have announced effervescent halfback Folau Fakatava has extended his contract with the club to the end of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Fakatava is still just 25 but remarkably is in his sixth year as a Highlander.
After biding his time behind the great Aaron Smith, he assumed the role of regular No9 last year.
While he has been challenged this year — Nathan Hastie came from nowhere to shine in his several starts — Fakatava is clearly trusted by Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph to be the leading option behind the scrum for some time yet.
"I am looking forward to this young team developing in the future," Fakatava said in a statement.
‘‘We have an exciting, hard-working group here and are well led by Jamie Joseph. I believe we can achieve some great things if we stay focused on improving."
Joseph said he was thrilled to have Fakatava locked in for two more seasons.
"He is an X-factor player for sure and sparks a lot within our attack structure," Joseph said.
‘‘He’s just getting better and better with experience and, at only 25 years of age, has a lot more to offer the Highlanders and New Zealand rugby."
While Fakatava should be a key man for the Highlanders for some time yet, it is uncertain whether he will get an opportunity to add to the two All Blacks caps he earned in 2022.
He has fallen out of favour at a national level recently as the likes of Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Finlay Christie and Noah Hotham have been preferred, while Xavier Roe and Kyle Preston could also be contenders in Scott Robertson’s eyes.
At his best, however, Fakatava offers so much that it would be a shame if his All Blacks career was not to get restarted.
If the black jersey does not come his way again, it seems more than possible he will switch allegiances to his native Tonga, especially with a Rugby World Cup looming next year.
Hastie is also contracted for 2026, so it seems the Highlanders have just one spot open at halfback in their next squad.
James Arscott is contracted at present but there will be strong claims from Adam Lennox, the wider squad member who has looked sharp in a couple of appearances of the bench, and prodigiously talented New Zealand under-20 halfback Dylan Pledger.
