New first-five brings Force flair

Introducing Ben Seymour, Northland's new goal-kicking first-five-eighth.

The 22-year-old former Western Force pivot has been picked up as an outside ring-in to fill the vacancy left by Ash Moeke, who is now playing overseas.

The Napier-born first-five-come-fullback will realise a dream of playing in the ITM Cup when he pulls on the Cambridge Blue jersey in August.

"I said I was keen to come back and play ITM Cup," Seymour said, who played in 13 of the Force's Super Rugby matches last year. "Now, the opportunity has come up."

Seymour's progression to Taniwha territory comes after finishing a season with French club Agen, the same club Rupeni Caucaunibuca has played for, and putting in some strong performances at Super Ruby level.

"Playing club rugby [in Sydney I] got picked up by the Force. It was a good experience, and I played a few more games than I thought. Willie Ripia was there [at the Force], but he left so there was just me and one other there to fight it out.

"[Playing Super Rugby was] definitely a great experience and I can hopefully bring some of that here."

When asked if Seymour's teammates at Agen had given him any tips on how to unleash the freakish talents of Caucau, he joked: "Yeah, they told me 'just give him the ball and he'll do the rest', [so] I'll just be giving him the ball at every chance."

Northland Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said having someone with Seymour's skill set sign up was a step in the right direction.

"At the start of the season, we were up front and said 'we need to fill the hole left by Ash Moeke'," Parkinson said. "And, although Derren [Witcombe] and George [Konia] have been working hard with our club players there's just no ITM Cup quality first-fives in Northland. There are a couple coming through, Tyler Lansdowne to name one. Still trying to fill [David Howell's] legacy, and obviously with Lachie [Munro] going and now Ash [Moeke, there is a big hole]."

Seymour has taken up a spot with the Western Sharks club rugby team and will play against Old Boys Marist at Old Boys today at 2.15pm.