Otago captain Alando Soakai is staying with the province for the next two years.
Soakai confirmed last night from South Africa he had signed with Otago until the end of the 2011 season.
The openside flanker, who will play his 35th game for the Highlanders tomorrow morning against the Stormers, had been courted by Auckland but has decided to stay with the blue and gold.
Soakai said the decision had taken a couple of months but now he had made it it was time to get on with playing.
"Otago has given me the opportunities down here and I feel I have grown as a person since I've come to Dunedin. The culture here is something that I like, and my partner is going to be down here for the next year or two," Soakai said.
"I've had a few sleepless nights thinking about it. It is easy to say put it out of your mind, but even the day before a game it was on my mind. But now I've made the decision I want to get on and play the game."
He felt humbled to have received an offer from Auckland, where he was born and grew up before moving to Dunedin for university studies.
His re-signing is a big boost for the province and continues the good news for the side after Otago stalwart David Latta was confirmed as the assistant coach last week.
Otago coach Phil Mooney said it was great Soakai had re-signed with the province.
"Alando is a quality person and a quality player and it was really important that we retain him, and everyone should be very pleased that he has elected to stay," Mooney said.
"He is the incumbent captain and will be one of the key drivers in taking the team forward."
He said it was another good day for Otago rugby, following the addition of Latta to the coaching side, and some new board members.
Soakai first played for Otago in 2005, having previously been loaned to Southland, and was a member of the Junior All Blacks last year.
He has played 48 games for Otago. His partner is Otago netball captain and New Zealand volleyball captain Debbie Hill.
