Walker-Leawere gets ’Canes call-up

Here is Isaia playing for Gisborne Boy's High against Hastings Boys' High in 2014. File photo by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE’S Isaia Walker-Leawere has been called into the Hurricanes squad for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs in Sydney.

The 19-year-old lock — one year out of Gisborne Boys’ High School — was a member of the New Zealand under-20 team who finished fifth at the u20 world cup in England in March.

Walker-Leawere, whose father captained Fiji at lock, replaces another former Gisborne Boys’ High School player, Blade Thomson. Thomson is due for a shoulder reconstruction on Friday.

Also missing is the luckless Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, who has a broken forearm, while the rest of the squad are banged up after another typically intense New Zealand conference scrap.

The Hurricanes go into the match on the back of a 37-27 win against the Blues, while the fast-finishing Waratahs smashed the Sunwolves 57-12, with the backs scoring five tries.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd will not name his starting 15 until Thursday. — NZME