Rugby: Taniwha bid for piece of Otago gold

Peter Breen could be a saving grace for the Taniwha in 2016.

Northland's selectors have looked South for the first five-eighth chosen to fill the void left behind by departing flyhalfs Dan Hawkins and Dan Bowden.

Signing on for one year in the Cambridge blue, former Otago-utility back Peter Breen has been identified as the man deemed buoyant enough to bring vitality to the Taniwha and handle the reigns of the pivotal role.

"What he brings to us is experience, ability to move the team around the field, great team ethic, and he's great in behind the scenes," Northland Mitre 10 Cup head coach Richie Harris said.

Forging a superstar-esque role at flyhalf during Otago's rampant run to the ITM Cup semifinals last season, Breen's value trebled with his ability to kick goals - something he developed under the tutelage of former Otago coach Tony Brown - and his part in the side's unbeaten run of five matches at the back half of 2015.

"We like the cut of Breen," Northland Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said.

"With Otago last year he had a really good season. He's older, he's played 40 games for Otago, he's a goal-kicker, and he had a good ITM Cup last year."

Blocked for higher honours, the depth in Otago footy with Hayden Parker and promising University back Fletcher Smith meant the 2013 Dunedin Club Player of the Year's day in the Highlanders jersey never eventuated.

Included in the current Blues Development programme, Breen now has a chance to resurrect his goal of playing Super Rugby.

"We were keen to keep him and made him an offer but he decided he wanted to head up to Northland and try his luck up there," Otago coach Cory Brown told the Otago Daily Times.

"He is a talented player and I can see why he wanted to go up there. He wants to play Super rugby and by going up there he may get a look in at the Blues."

Breen joins Northland players Jordan Hyland, Waisea Lawebuka, Josh Goodhue, and Matt Matich as contenders vying for a Super Rugby stint; a level at which Harris says Breen "certainly presents at".

With former Northland No10 Hawkins moving to the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise, and Bowden returning to Europe to play Aviva Premiership rugby for English club Bath, Northland selectors deemed there to be a shortage of quality first five-eighths across the province,

Besides up-and-coming player Tyler Landsdowne, who got four games under his belt for Northland last year, Harris said they "weren't convinced there was much depth in that position," hence the signing of Breen.

It is not known which club Breen will front for in the Bayleys 2016 Southern Districts Premier competition yet, but Parkinson said more will be know within the next 10 days.

"We ask for expressions of interest from clubs, we put them in front of the player with a bit of background, then we ask him to attend some trainings, and then he comes back to us and we make a decision."