Rugby: Chiefs lock signs with Force

Toby Lynn. Photo / Getty Images

Former Chiefs and Waikato lock Toby Lynn has signed a two-year deal with Super rugby franchise the Western Force.

The 26-year-old has 32 Super rugby caps for the Chiefs after making his debut in 2007, and 65 games with Waikato in the national provincial championship.

He said today he was excited about working alongside Force incumbent second rower Nathan Sharpe and exciting youngster Sam Wykes.

"I've played my whole career in Waikato and felt that it was time for a change, a different perspective, and I'm pretty excited about what the Force can do for my rugby as well as what they can achieve as a team in the Super rugby competition," Lynn said.

"I've played against Nathan Sharpe a few times, he is definitely one of the premier locks in the world, and has been for some time, so getting alongside him will be an awesome experience."

Lynn is Australian-eligible through his grandfather, who was born in Perth.

The benefits of rugby in Western Australia have been given a big tick by fellow New Zealander and current Force No 10 Willie Ripia, who played alongside Lynn as a youngster in the Waikato region.

"I know Willie quite well, he's a good man. I had a chat to him a couple of weeks ago about the move and he loves it. He said he wished he had moved over a few years ago, he really couldn't have said better things about the place," Lynn said.

Force coach Richard Graham said Lynn was a valuable recruit in a forward pack that has a great spread of youth and experience.

"Toby is a really industrious and hard-working lock. He is strong at the set-piece and will bring with him his experiences of playing in New Zealand during his professional career," Graham said.

- NZPA