Highlanders confirm they will ditch draft next season

Greg Cooper

The Highlanders have decided to turn their backs on the draft system and will instead ferret for players from home unions - Otago, Southland and North Otago - for next year's Super 14 rugby squad.

Chief executive Russell Gray said today in a statement the move was in the long-term best interests of the three unions.

"The Highlanders board decided in 2004 that the long-term aim should be to choose solely from within our region and that time has now come," Gray said.

"A number of factors come into play and paramount among them is the need to give players who commit to our provinces a clear pathway to the higher level of Super 14."

Next year was an opportune time to have a local focus as the Super 14 would be levelled out by the absence of 30 All Blacks for half the season.

"Based on the depth we are growing in our two major provinces, we can be competitive with a local side in the Super 14.

"It is considered the move may also engender greater crowd support because people will more readily identify with players from the region rather than with draft players who are here for just a few months."

Gray said there would be just one exception to the policy.

"It's the New Zealand union that pays Super 14 rugby players and while we are driven by looking after our own interests, we also have to work in the best interests of New Zealand rugby.

"If the New Zealand selectors ask us to choose a specific player for a specific reason, it would be foolish of us not to do so," Gray said.

The Highlanders have drafted 48 players in 11 seasons, and just six of those went on to transfer south.

They used four in 2004, six in 2005 and eight this year.

The Highlanders, at their peak in 1998-99 under coach Tony Gilbert, had to draft only one player each year.

Highlanders coach Greg Cooper was supportive of the move.

The team finished ninth in the inaugural Super 14 this year, with 27 points from six wins and seven losses, scoring 228 points with 276 against.

- NZPA