Rugby: Waikato: no rush to sign Brumby

By CHRIS RATTUE

Super 12 prop Michael Collins will miss Waikato's NPC campaign because of a leg injury, but the union is not rushing to sign Brumbies frontrower Simon Ross as cover for him.

Collins, who captained the Chiefs in 1999, ruptured his Achilles tendon at a club training session last week and has already had an operation.

The 23-year-old Ross, who played for the Australian under-19s and 21s, is among a host of players being hawked off by a variety of agents to NPC teams.

He has been suggested as a possible Waikato recruit, but the union's chief executive, Gary Dawson, said they were not considering signing him yet.

"We have got a couple of very good young props, including Deacon Manu coming through, and we want to push our own players," Dawson said.

Waikato, who defend the Ranfurly Shield against Wanganui in Tokoroa on Saturday - their first defence this season in home territory - will go into the NPC season with David Briggs and Paul Martin as their top props.

That leaves New Zealand Colt Manu and Tony Philp vying for the third spot.

Both will get significant game time against Wanganui as coach Kiwi Searancke checks their progress.

Searancke left the door open for a possible overseas prop signing, but said his preference was to use Philp and/or Manu if they came up to the grade.

"I get a bit annoyed with these agents who send you a CV of a player then claim they are in negotiation, trying to talk up the market," Searancke said.

"With Mike being injured, if Patricio Noriega rang me up then that would be a different story, but I don't even really know who this Ross is or how he plays."

Meanwhile, former All Black Scott McLeod is still recovering from injury and will not be part of Saturday's squad.

Another former All Black, lock Mark Cooksley, has missed the cut again. Searancke said he was still weighing up whether Cooksley would be part of his plans this year.

Searancke plans to name his side today.