Rugby: Berryman staying put in north

Northland rugby star Norman Berryman will wear the region's Cambridge-blue colours again next season - but flanker Justin Collins might not.

Berryman's lawyer, Philip Alexander-Crawford of Lawgroup in Whangarei, confirmed Berryman would stay in the north after talks with the Northland Rugby Union (NRU) were finalised yesterday.

But doubts remain over Collins, who is being eyed by the Canterbury Rugby Union in their hunt for players to fill their squad next season.

Berryman had been considering an offer to play for Canterbury in the national provincial championship (NPC), an offer that was expected to guarantee him a place in the Canterbury Crusaders Super 12 team.

But he has shunned Canterbury's propositions, instead deciding to honour his contract with the NRU that runs until the end of the 2000 season.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward said Berryman's return would be a huge boost, but news that Collins and other senior players might yet be lost had muted any celebrations.

All NPC players who wish to switch provinces must do so by the end of October, which has led to a frantic round of player negotiations over the past two weeks.

"I think Gus [Collins] has an offer from Canterbury but we are still hopeful that we will get him back as I see his presence as critical to the Northland side," Woodward said. "But for sure, Berryman signing is good news for us."

Berryman's signature is the first of "the big five" targeted by the NRU as the key building blocks to Northland's first division aspirations next season.

The five are Berryman, Collins, captain Glenn Taylor, prop Nick White and imported South African halfback Joggie Viljoen.

White may yet head to Wellington with question-marks hanging over the possible return of Viljoen. Taylor has yet to sign but has stated he wants to return to the Northland team next year.

Berryman has stayed in Whangarei because of Northland's turnaround in form this season when they finished sixth in the NPC first division and an attractive offer from the NRU.

The NRU hopes to finalise contracts with most of the senior players tomorrow. - NZPA