The Western Force have ensured they won't run short of playmakers again this Super Rugby season by signing New Zealander Sam Christie as a fourth option at five-eighth.
The 26-year-old Christie is a former New Zealand schoolboys representative who has had seven years with the Waikato provincial team and he was added to the Force's extended squad after training in Perth for over a month.
He joins a list of five-eighths at the Force which also includes former Cheetahs and Junior Springboks star Sias Ebersohn, former Wallaby Sam Norton-Knight and Australian Under 20 representative Kyle Godwin.
Injuries and the pre-season axing of Kiwi Willie Ripia left the Perth-based team struggling for playmakers last season but new coach Michael Foley is happy that won't happen again.
"Being such a pivotal position, we wanted to ensure we had depth at fly-half this season," Foley said.