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Hurricanes lock down young stars
By Online Editors
The Hurricanes today announced contract extensions for a pair of promising youngsters, who have committed their immediate playing futures to the Wellington-based club.
Hooker Asafo Aumua and wing Salesi Rayasi have committed to the club through until at least the end of the 2021 Super Rugby season.
Aumua burst on to the first class rugby scene in New Zealand in 2017 when he had a sensational Mitre 10 Cup season with the Wellington Lions, a year after he had made his debut for the capital side as well as playing a leading role with the New Zealand Under 20 squad.
That form saw him called up to the All Blacks for their end of year tour when he played against the Barbarians and a France XV.
The 21-year-old made his Hurricanes debut last year and went on to feature in four matches before his season was cut short because of injury.
Meanwhile, Rayasi has signaled his immediate playing future is firmly with the Hurricanes as he works towards making his debut.
The 22-year-old former New Zealand Sevens rep was selected for the 2019 Hurricanes squad off the back of a break out year with Auckland as he helped the side win the national Premiership title.
"Salesi has shown us already through the pre-season that he has the hunger and desire to succeed at this level," Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree said.
"We know what Asafo is capable of and he is really keen to play a key role for the Hurricanes in the coming years."
Hurricanes general manager of rugby Ben Castle said it was important for the club to keep looking ahead to the future and Aumua and Rayasi would play a big part in that.
"They are two young men who we see as being really important over the next three seasons at least and they are as excited as we are," Castle said. "They are both local players who grew up in Wellington and we are always keen to develop our local talent."
Both Aumua and Rayasi attended St. Patrick’s Silverstream College together in Wellington, with the latter once a promising basketball player.
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Latest Comments
It’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to commentsDon’t pay a blind bit of notice to Lukie… he likes the sound of his own voice and is always looking for something controversial to say. He has been banging on about Leinster's defensive system all season like he knows something Jacques Nienebar doesn’t. Which is the reason why he didn’t apply for the job obviously
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