All Blacks player Andrew h**e signs one-year deal with the Highlanders - Rugby News
All Blacks seasoned campaigner, Andrew h**e, has signed one-year deal with Highlanders to extend his Super Rugby career to a total of 11 years. h**e played his last season of Super Rugby championship for the Hurricanes but was sacked by their coach, Mark Hammett, due to an unimpressive performance. Later, Highlanders coach, Jamie Joseph, revealed on August 2 that the veteran h**e has come to terms with the derby for one year.
The Highlanders coach Joseph told the media that the All Blacks star had played his entire rugby career away from home and now wanted to play for his home side in order to stay within his province. Talking to reporters, Jamie said that the Highlanders are delighted to hire the services of the experienced player, which will boost their side during the next season of Super Rugby.
Jamie Joseph further told the media about the fresh deal with Andrew h**e and said, “He ... wants to come home to give something to the Highlanders and that is great for us. We had to make sure everyone is making the decision for the right reasons. From his perspective he had to make sure he was not rushing into a commitment for our team on the rebound from what happened at the Hurricanes. And he had to understand what we are about.”
h**e has become the fourth player to leave from the Hurricanes side after the conclusion of Super Rugby championship 2011. Earlier, Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu had shifted loyalties towards the Blues whereas Aaron Cruden put pen to paper with the Chiefs for the next season of Super Rugby.
Hosea Gear is also expected to join the Highlanders in the coming few weeks which will definitely boost the derby to become a good competitive side. Joseph also commented about Gear’s possible signing with his side and said, “He is considering coming to the Highlanders and less than a year ago there would be no way a player of that calibre would have looked at us.”
Andrew h**e has participated in 98 Super Rugby games in his decade long career for the Hurricanes and Crusaders.
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