Waisake Naholo
Despite signing a contract to join Clermont next season, New Zealand Rugby is reportedly hopeful of retaining Super Rugby’s top try-scorer, Waisake Naholo.
Quotes attributed to the club’s Sporting Director, Jean-Marc Lhermet, suggest the move is not a foregone conclusion given the form of the Highlanders’ winger, who has a competition-leading 8 tries in his 11 appearances.
“As it stands we have a contract of 2 years with an option that has been signed by the player,” Lhermet told La Montagne – a newspaper based in Clermont.
“It’s true that his agent reassured us initially when there were noises about the NZRU wanting to keep him. Now, his performances in Super Rugby are remarkable and we are under an increasing amount of pressure from the NZRU. And when the All Black machine gets going, it becomes complicated.
“If the question is ‘Are his chances of playing at Clermont 100%?’ then the answer isn’t yes. Depending on what happens with Naholo, we need either 2 or 3 wingers.
“One of our recruits depends on what happens to Castres. Rémy Grosso is a possibility, but he would only come if his club doesn’t stay up.”
Naholo has stamped his authority on the Super Rugby competition this year and ranks 1st for tries scored (8), equal-1st for clean breaks (20), 3rd for defenders beaten (35) and 5th for carries (115).