Rugby: Canterbury keep out of player-chase

Canterbury rugby officials will not be chasing players from outside the region when the transfer market opens today.

"Our focus ... is on retaining the player base we've got in Canterbury," chief executive Steve Tew said.

The only inbound transfer is the official signing of halfback Billy Fulton, on loan from North Harbour, who now lives in Christchurch.

Tew said Canterbury would only get involved in the transfer market if it found "two or three critical players" were being targeted by other unions, which was unlikely.

Canterbury have been progressively re-signing players during the season. All Blacks hooker Mark Hammett, veteran prop Con Barrell and the promising Mauger brothers, Aaron and Nathan, have already renewed their contracts.

They are still in negotiations with other players.

- NZPA