Rugby: Former Taniwhas boost team

The Northland Rugby Union's signing spree has continued with the announcement that two former Taniwhas are returning to the fold.

Jake Paringatai and Bronson Murray will be part of this season's ITM Cup squad, alongside fellow new signings Matt Moulds and Robbie Abel.

The duo's signing comes a week after former Western Force fly-half Ben Seymour announced that he would be steering the Taniwha around Toll Stadium.

Paringatai is likely to bring up 50 appearances for the Cambridge Blue, currently on 48, once he completes his Super Rugby season, while Highlander teammate Murray looks set to reach the century milestone when he returns north.

The 33-year-old Paringatai will continue his previous association with Marist when he joins Old Boys Marist later this year.

Murray, 30, will play for Hikurangi if he chooses to play in the Bayleys Southern Districts Premier Competition, due to his family ties further north, and he may take the field for a sub union competition team.

Murray and Paringatai were in Whangarei on Monday completing medical reviews with the NRU team doctor and physio before returning to Northland fulltime in mid-to-late July.

Joining the Highlanders duo is a former Maungaturoto lad in Moulds, who plays hooker. He is a product of Northland's age grade representative teams, before he headed away to Christchurch to complete a degree at Canterbury University.

Moulds is joined in the hooking ranks by Abel, who grew up in Kaikohe and played the majority of his rugby for Mid Northern before moving on to be picked in the Brumbies Super Rugby training squad.

Also on the NRU's radar is openside flanker Dan Pryor, who is currently working in Auckland at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.

However, for Pryor to get the green light he must play club rugby in Northland for Marist.

Pryor is due to finish his time in Auckland in a few weeks, which will see him relocate north and play club rugby.

NRU now has 23 players contracted, with 30 contracts available in total.

Northland ITM Cup squad:

(To date) Bronson Murray, Matt Wallis (Kamo), Scott Vessey (OBM), Justin Davies (Moerewa), Ross Wright (Wellsford), Matt Moulds (Otamatea), Robbie Abel (Mid Northern), Bryce Williams (Kamo), David Morgan (Otamatea), Jack Ram (Kerikeri), William Whetton (Mid Northern), Jake Paringatai (OBM), Dan Pryor (to be signed), Tane Takulua (Mid Northern), Ben Seymour (Western Sharks), Viliami Tahitu'a (Hora Hora), Derek Carpenter (Mid Northern), Warren Dunn (Hora Hora), Rene Ranger (Wellsford), Rupeni Caucau (Awanui), Jone Macalai (Awanui), Mateo Malupo (OBM), Whiria Meltzer (Awanui), Matt Wright (Wellsford).