The club named nine players in their wider training squad yesterday.
Otago front-rowers Rohan Wingham, A-One Lolofie and Ben Lopas and lock Josh Tengblad will be joined by explosive openside Lucas Casey in the training group.
Southland duo Nick Shearer and Tayne Harvey have made the cut. Shearer was a spark plug at halfback for the Stags, while 20-year-old Harvey has played eight games for the Stags and the midfielder is seen as a player for the future.
Waikato loose forward Senita Lauaki and Taranaki midfielder Meihana Grindlay complete the intake.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said having a wider training squad was essential.
"The wider training group is important to our season as it provides injury cover but also gives us an arm for further development of some players," he said.
The Highlanders pounced on Casey early on during the NPC. He scored two tries in Otago’s dramatic win against Wellington and the Highlanders liked what they had seen from the 22-year-old.
He scored nine tries during the season and, even though he has some quality players ahead of him at the Highlanders, he offers something different.
Casey has exceptional pace, the confidence to have a crack and is a quality defender to boot.
Wingham had a solid season for Otago. The tighthead picked up the slack after Saula Ma’u was ruled out for the season.
The 22-year-old was in the Highlanders squad last season, so his appearance in the development squad can only be read as a demotion.
The Highlanders have opted to bring in former All Black Angus Ta’avoa, which will limit Wingham’s playing opportunities.
Lopas impressed for Otago on the loosehead side when he got opportunities, and Lolofie is a product of the Highlanders under-20 programme. The hooker made the New Zealand under-20 World Cup team last year and made his debut for Otago this season.
Tengblad is a giant man and is another player who has been part of the Highlanders’ high-performance programme.
He joined the New Zealand under-20 squad at the World Cup this year and also made his NPC debut, turning in a solid performance in the record win against Auckland.
Grindlay has clocked 37 games for Taranaki. The 24-year-old was previously contracted to the Blues, where he made his debut against the Highlanders in 2024.
He is a hard-running midfielder, comfortable at either centre or second five.
Lauaki is an athletic loose forward and the younger brother of the late All Blacks backrower Sione Lauaki.
He has made 16 appearances for Waikato.
Shearer made the move from Canterbury to Southland this season and helped the Stags wrestle the Ranfurly Shield off Waikato with a brilliant try.
Harvey joined the Highlanders’ high-performance programme two years ago and was a member of the Highlanders under-20 team in 2024 and 2025.
He was selected for the New Zealand under-20s World Cup squad along with Dylan Pledger and Tengblad.
Otago winger Jae Broomfield has joined the Crusaders development squad, former Highlander Michael Loft has linked up with the Chiefs and former Highlander Josh Renton has got a gig with the Blues.
Highlanders
Development squad
Ben Lopas, A-One Lolofie, Rohan Wingham, Josh Tengblad, Lucas Casey, Senita Lauaki, Nic Shearer, Meihana Grindlay, Tayne Harvey.
