Fijian jet-heeled Taranaki wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone, 23, will replace Tomkinson for Super Rugby Pacific. Otago No 8 Christian Lio-Willie has been brought in as cover for Billy Harmon, and rising halfback Nathan Hastie will provide short-term cover for Folau Fakatava.
Tomkinson hurt his foot in the NPC Championship final against Taranaki and needs surgery, which means he joins lock Pari Pari Parkinson and wing Jona Nareki on the long-term injury list.
“Sio has grown steadily as a player over the last few years and has always been a player we could rely on to perform consistently for us, he had another good season for Otago,” said head coach Tony Brown in a statement.
“It’s a blow for us to lose him for the Super Rugby Pacific competition but a good chance for Vereniki to showcase his talent.”
The Highlanders have opted to replace a midfielder with a wing because they already have a solid options in Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory and Ngantungane Punivai, while new recruit Josh Timu has also played in the midfield for Otago.
That has opened the door for Tikoisolomone, who was arguably the quickest player in the NPC.
He was identified as a player of the future after scoring 13 tries for Whanganui in the Heartland Championship in 2019, and he could offer the Highlanders a genuine point of difference next season.
Tikoisolomone and Lio-Willie were unlucky to originally miss out on Super Rugby contracts, after the big Otago loose forward finished the campaign strongly.
