Rugby Exclusive: Lots of props so Hohneck goes

Chiefs and former Steamers prop Josh Hohneck has signed for Waikato.Photo/File

Chiefs prop Josh Hohneck has walked away from the Bay of Plenty Steamers after missing out on a new contract.

The 28-year-old has signed for Waikato after five seasons and 40 games in the blue-and-gold jersey.

Hohneck says he wanted to re-sign for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union but was unable to reach an agreement.

"I don't want to dwell too much on it but it was a little bit of butting heads and that sort of thing," Hohneck said.

"There were a few delays around contracting and that sort of stuff and I needed to make a decision that worked for me going forward into the Super season.

"I have called the Bay home for the last five or six years and still love the place. It was a real tough decision and no doubt there will be a tinge of sadness watching the Bay play."

Bay of Plenty Rugby chief executive Mike Rogers says it is disappointing to lose Hohneck but they are in a healthy position when it comes to props.

"Our priority was based on performance, remembering Josh got injured last year in the first game against Otago and didn't play the rest of the year," Rogers said.

"We looked at the performance of guys like Kane Hames and Pingi Tala'apitaga, who played the whole season for us. They are younger props who became our priorities to re-sign as they were both off contract as well, as was Mike Kainga.

"From our point of view, we wanted to invest in the younger guys so we went through the process of re-signing those guys and have been lucky enough to secure them. We also had Chiefs prop Solomona Sakalia, who was injured all last year, already on contract.

"We have now four pretty good quality props on our books with one more to sign.

"It came down to budget and could we afford a prop of Josh's level. Plus we wanted to evaluate our young, local props like Aidan Ross, playing for Te Puke.

"For us, it is about providing an opportunity and a pathway which is fairly critical and something that our community wants us to provide."