Former All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo will join the Rugby United New York club in the United States for the remainder of their season.
Naholo, who played eight games for Canterbury in the NPC last year but wasn’t signed by a Super Rugby Pacific franchise for the 2022 season, will join ex-All Black Andy Ellis to play with the New York team in the MLR competition.
The 30-year-old Naholo, who played 26 tests between 2015 and 2018, returned to New Zealand last year after he wasn’t offered a contract extension by the London Irish club.
Although he was invited to train with the Crusaders during the pre-season, Naholo, who previously represented the Highlanders before leaving New Zealand to play in the United Kingdom in 2019, never played for the Christchurch-based side.
A member of the All Blacks squad that won the World Cup in Britain in 2015, Naholo struggled to capture his best form upon his return to New Zealand last year.
At the time of his signing, which was announced late last week, Rugby United New York were fourth in the Western Conference with six wins from nine matches. They have seven games remaining in their regular season before the playoffs.
During two seasons with London Irish, Fiji-born Naholo was only able to make a limited impact due to a knee injury. He made four appearances, scoring two tries, in two seasons.
The MRL has proved a popular destination for ex-All Blacks and Kiwi players who have been unable to clinch Super Rugby contracts or lucrative deals in Japan.
While the money isn’t nearly as good as what is on offer in Japan, the chance to experience a different lifestyle in the States and be part of the fledging competition holds great appeal.
