Whakarewarewa rugby club have acquired the services of former All Black Caleb Ralph.
Ralph, who played 14 tests for the All Blacks and more than 130 Super Rugby matches, took part in Whaka's 20-17 loss to Rotoiti on Emery Park at the weekend.
The club sit outside the top fourof the Baywide premier division and look likely to miss out on a semi-final berth this year.
Ralph recently returned from Australian club, Sunshine Coast Stingrays. A former Western Heights student, the 34-year-old has been living in Rotorua since returning from Australia.
The 1.87m tall, 93kg winger/centre who played 126 games for the Crusaders and played in five off their seven title-winning campaigns will be a huge boost for Whaka who have struggled, due to injury and player availability this season.
East Coast coach Ngarimu Simpkins told the New Zealand Herald, he was confident Ralph would play for his side this season.
"We're rapt that he wants to play for the Coast," said Simpkins. "He likes the culture of the Coast and we've no doubt he will fit in with the boys and be a hit with our supporters.
"This has got to be one of the biggest signings, if not the biggest, for a Heartland team."
A former New Zealand sevens player, Ralph won a Commonwealth Games gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, he confirmed he had talked with East Coast coaching staff and was interested in the proposal but hadn't yet finalised anything.
Ralph who began his first class career with the Steamers said he hadn't ruled out playing for the Steamers as well.
At the weekend Ralph showed he hadn't lost any of his class in his first hit out for Whaka. Playing at fullback, he chimed into the backline causing havoc and stretching Rotoiti's defence.
Whaka's next outing is against Opotiki at Puarenga Park on Saturday.
