Blackadder celebrates joining two clubs in the same week

Canterbury rugby captain Todd Blackadder has had his cake - and eaten it too - this week.

The former All Black captain celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday to cap off a week of personal milestones.

Blackadder led Canterbury to a 62-19 win over Otago last Saturday and a day later announced he had signed a three-year contract with Scottish club Edinburgh Reivers.

Yesterday he joined Canterbury team-mates Matt Sexton and David Hewett in the 30-somethings club.

"Time flies when you're having fun," Blackadder said. "It only feels like yesterday I was playing for the New Zealand Colts, and today I'm 30.

"When you hit 30, it's just another day at the office. I think the kids are more excited about it than me."

Blackadder, who will lead Canterbury against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on Sunday, said he had received favourable feedback on his move to Scotland.

"I haven't had one negative comment. I'd like to thank everyone for their best wishes and support. It's been great."

His Edinburgh move has been hailed by Scottish rugby authorities.

"We are absolutely delighted to have attracted a world-class lock forward to Scottish rugby," Edinburgh Rugby chief executive Nick Oswald said.

"Todd Blackadder is regarded as nothing short of a national hero in New Zealand.

"He is a icon of the world game and it says much for the positive climate which so many have helped to foster and the strides the game in Scotland is making that he has pledged his future to us."

Team manger Ian Rankin believed Blackadder would bring "unrelenting commitment and a tireless work ethic" to Edinburgh, and would prove an inspiring role model to players in Scotland.

Meanwhile, All Black fullback Leon MacDonald remains in doubt for Canterbury's match against Counties Manukau.

He has not trained this week after injuring a hamstring against Otago.

But Fijian test wing Marika Vunibaka is fit again after a slight neck injury, which kept him out of the Otago game.

Centre Nathan Mauger has been nursing a knock to the knee and did not train yesterday, but he will be fit for selection this weekend.

* Taranaki's Tony Penn will miss the rest of the Air New Zealand-sponsored NPC because of a niggling shoulder injury.

"I'm devastated," the Hurricanes loosehead prop said yesterday.

"In a way it was only a matter of time. I've tried to get it right, but I've only been kidding myself."

Penn said it was better to sacrifice four weeks now and get it right.

"It's one of the hardest decisions I've had to make."

The injury has dogged Penn since the Counties Manukau match last year and ruled him out of the semifinal against Canterbury.

Taranaki coach Colin Cooper said Penn's absence would be big blow.

* Anton Oliver will captain Otago against Auckland at Carisbrook on Saturday.

It will be Oliver's first run-on game for the province since being appointed All Black captain in May.

He will take over the captaincy, and the hooker's role, from Tom Willis, who led Otago in their first five NPC games this year.

Oliver will be captain until All Black flanker Taine Randell recovers from injury and assumes that role.

"We appointed Taine captain early on," coach Laurie Mains said yesterday. "Anton has had enough responsibility with the All Blacks this year. I don't want to add to his pressures."

Players unavailable are Randell, Byron Kelleher, Kelvin Middleton and James Jowsey.

- NZPA