1
Highlanders set to lose another veteran midfielder as part of widespread personnel change
By Alex McLeod
He may have been one of the most loyal servants to the Highlanders since first joining the franchise in 2016, but veteran midfielder Teihorangi Walden looks to have played his last game for the Dunedin club.
The Taranaki captain will lead his side out against Otago on Sunday in search of retaining their newly-crowned Ranfurly Shield status, but he will also be playing for his future after he revealed he is out-of-contract for the 2021 Super Rugby season.
Speaking to Stuff earlier this week, the 27-year-old midfielder said he hadn't been offered a new deal for the upcoming season, seemingly bringing an end to his five-season spell with the Highlanders.
The announcement comes after he played a limited role in the side's Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign this year, losing his preferred No. 12 jersey to Sio Tomkinson.
In total, he was named on the bench just once in their campaign-opening victory against the Chiefs, and it appears that hasn't been enough to keep him at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
He joins Canterbury outside back Josh McKay as players to have missed out on contract renewals for next season, although both players have plenty of experience and talent between them to vie for spots at other franchises across the country.
With 35 Highlanders appearances to his name, Walden - who started for the franchise in their famous 23-22 victory over the British and Irish Lions three years ago - leaves the club with a hole to plug in their squad roster.
Through the signing of Crusaders utility back and Tongan international Fetuli Paea, the Highlanders look to have already gone some way to filling the void left by Walden and Rob Thompson, who posted on Instagram last month that his time with the club has ended, in the midfield.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
Borthwick has obviously earned the right to expect people to look elsewhere when the sort of personal problems likely at the heart of Jones' departure occur but it's hard to believe he's, if not entirely to blame, at least most of the problem.
England see between choices in every aspect of their play
Go to commentsBM My rugby fanaticism journey began as a youngster waking up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee to watch the Boks play the ABs on that 1981 rebel tour, where we lost the last game in the dying seconds to a penalty, and ended up losing the series 2-1. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Ray Mordt, and DuPlessis, to name a few; what a team! I believe we could've won another World Cup with those boys playing in their prime.
Go to comments