When opportunity calls

When Jake Paringatai took a dreaded phone call on Thursday he feared the worst. And sure enough the Northland No 8 had not made the cut for the Blues squad.

But head coach David Nucifora also had some good news.

Paringatai's split-second assumption was he had made the Blues' wider training group but this time he was off the mark - and less than 24 hours later he was at a meet-and-greet with 11 other new Crusaders at Rugby Park in Christchurch.

"He [Nucifora] said, 'You've been drafted to the Crusaders', I said, 'Eh?' I had to sit there for a while and process it," a stunned Paringatai recalled after the six-time Super rugby champions released their 35-strong squad yesterday.

"I knew I wouldn't make the Blues but I wasn't expecting to be here - what a place to be - the best team in the world, the best players, what an opportunity!"

The New Zealand Maori rep's unstinting service at the back of a struggling Northland scrum earned a coveted contract and the chance to emulate the deeds of Norm Maxwell and Norm Berryman, Kauri country heroes who became crowd favourites on the mainland.

"Hopefully I can keep the legacy going," said Paringatai, who is vying with Mose Tuiali'i for a spot at the back of the Crusaders pack.

Paringatai is only one of two Northlanders to secure a Super contract, seasoned pivot David Holwell being picked up by the Blues.

- NZPA