Otago Rugby has signed one of the most promising players in the country while also holding on to some young local talent.
The union has attracted three players from this year's New Zealand schools team and a couple of players who turned out for the New Zealand Schools Barbarians team, which is in effect the second national schools team.
Midfield back Thomas Umaga-Jensen is heading south from Wellington, where he has been a key member of the Scots College side, which has made the top four schools final in the past couple of years.
Along with his twin, Peter, Umaga-Jensen was being chased by many unions but the 18-year-old has decided to come to Otago.
Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said players now looked at the whole picture, with regards to not just rugby; education also played a key part.
''You can't keep everybody but if you can keep most of them and then entice others, then you have to be pleased,'' he said.
''The players came down here and had a good look around, not just at the rugby side of it but also the education opportunities. We have managed to tick every box and credit has to go to guys like Tim Colling who convinced these boys to come,'' Kinley said.
Union player development manager Colling said it was one of the most exciting group of young players Otago has been able to assemble in some time.
''We feel we have the programme in Otago that will give these players the development they need to represent both Otago and the Highlanders in the future,'' Colling said.
A partnership had been established between the union, the Highlanders, Otago Polytechnic and the University of Otago.
The university has performance scholarships and a couple of them had been opened up to rugby players, which would provide support to the players.
The polytechnic also had forms of scholarships to assist players.
Kinley said the players had to keep up with standards in both their education and work at the rugby academy.
Highlanders high performance manager Jon Preston said attracting and developing young talent within the Highlanders region was an important facet in future-proofing performance for the group.
''There is a defined pathway for young talent to the Highlanders and it is exciting to see these guys working hard to take it.''
Kinley said the union and the Highlanders had always had an agreement to look after young talent, but it was becoming more formalised.
The players would work with the union to work out what club they would play for, although some already had connections with clubs.
Umaga-Jensen, Hemaua Samasoni, Taylor Haugh and Josh Timu will attend university, Jona Nareki, Matt Whaanga and Slade McDowall will attend polytechnic, and Josh Buchan is going to be working.
