Rugby: Cruden sticks with Manawatu

Aaron Cruden can leave Manawatu if the province is relegated from the Air NZ Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Promising young first five-eighth Aaron Cruden will continue to play his rugby for Manawatu next year.

The Manawatu Rugby Union made the announcement today, saying it was delighted Cruden had signed for another year.

He will able play for the Hurricanes in the Super 14 season.

However, if Manawatu is relegated from the Air New Zealand Cup if the competition is cut from 14 to 10 teams, the union indicated that it would support Cruden in a transfer or loan to another province.

That choice would be left to Cruden and his agent, but it would challenge the New Zealand Rugby Union to ensure that Division One was a meaningful competition that players could obtain Super 14 contracts from, said Manawatu chief executive John Knowles.

Cruden, who captained the New Zealand under 20 side which won the World Cup in Japan earlier this year and named IRB World Junior Player of the Year, was chased by a number of other unions.

Manawatu-born and bred, Cruden has said he wanted to continue playing rugby for Manawatu.

Following a year fighting testicular cancer in 2008, Cruden has overcome his illness to play 12 games for Manawatu over the last two years of the Air New Zealand Cup competition.

- NZPA