Northland adds former U21 international to ranks

Bryce Woodward has further strengthened Northland's backline options with the signing of former under-21 international Aaron Bancroft for the 2010 season.
With the Barbarians' sideshow now behind him, the Northland coach has had more time to ponder the team's final line-up with their first pre-season game a little over three weeks away.
Bancroft, who played for the Highlanders and Otago last season, did not figure in the Super-14 side this season and has been tempted north by Woodward, who coached him as a New Zealand junior.
"Aaron's not a big man but he's got beautiful skills and is an elusive runner, he's represented New Zealand at age-group level and has Super-14 experience... he didn't make the Highlanders this year but is still a very good footballer and should fit in well because he has played with quite a few of our current squad members," Woodward said.
The re-signing of two of the Taniwha's Super-14 stars, Jared Payne and Rene Ranger, on two-year deals in recent weeks, helped tempt the 25-year-old north.
"Players always look at the quality of players that they'll have around them before they sign any deal, so it was pretty important that we signed Jared and Rene to be the basis for that recruitment," he said.
Bancroft has been signed to replace Mid Northern's Derek Carpenter, who has a season ending knee injury, with Woodward expecting him to compete with Aden Dewes and perhaps Lachie Munro for second five-eighth position, as well as provide cover for Ranger at centre.
Woodward is aware that importing players from other provinces is not always popular but believes sometimes it is necessary.
"Our club players have got to appreciate the work they need to do to raise themselves to the first-class level and if they're not able to do that then it's hard for us to select them," he said.
The recent good form of Hora Hora's Warren Dunn would have seen him considered for the side but Woodward said Dunn made himself unavailable for the team earlier in the season, when he had to bow out of the Northland training squad with family commitments.

 There are still two backline positions available for outside backs, with training squad members Mateo Malupo, Brock Mustard, Brook Gilmore and Troy Woodman competing for the spots. They may also face competition from youngsters like Troy Gilbert, Saxon Samuels and Whiria Meltzer for the places.
In the forwards, the Taniwha are still short a lineout lock, a prop and a loose forward, with the latter two places likely to be selected from the training squad members sometime after the opening pre-season game against North Harbour at Kaitaia on July 14.
Woodward said it was preferable to have three players in the squad who can play tighthead prop as well as loosehead, which  complicated the selection of the final prop to  join Bronson Murray, Matt Wallis and Justin Davies. Wellsford's Ross Wright, who can cover hooker, and Kamo's Dane Mariki - a former Okaihau boy who played for Otago B last year - are the current front-runners.